Psychological Intervention on Cold Executive Function and Academic Performance in University Women With Insomnia

NCT07529652 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: MP/2026/CGV
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 35
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, are highly prevalent among university women and are associated with impairments in executive functioning and academic performance. Women present higher rates of insomnia due to biological and psychosocial factors. This study aims to design and evaluate a psychological intervention program to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia symptoms in female university students aged 18-25, with the purpose of strengthening cold executive functions and analyzing its impact on academic performance.

Conditions

Insomnia

Keywords

Insomnia; Cold-Executive-Functions; Academic-Performance; Woman

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Sleep Quality

  Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse et al., 1989) is a self-report instrument designed to assess sleep quality and sleep disturbances over the past month. It evaluates seven components: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. These components generate an overall score that allows differentiation between people who sleep well and people who sleep poorly. Its psychometric properties have demonstrated adequate levels of reliability and validity. Furthermore, it exhibits good sensitivity and specificity for identifying clinically significant sleep problems and is therefore considered a valid and reliable instrument for assessing sleep quality. It evaluates sleep over the past month using 19 self administered questions, with a total score ranging from 0 to 21 points. An overall score \> 5 indicates poor sleep quality while a score ≤ 5 suggests adequate sleep quality

  Pre-post intervention evaluation, after 8 weeks.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Executive functions in higher education

  Pre-post intervention evaluation, after 8 weeks.

• Insomnia

  Pre-post intervention evaluation, after 8 weeks.

• The Card Sorting Test

  Pre-post intervenction assessment, after 8 weeks

• Working Memory

  Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention assessment, after 8 week

• Tower of Hanoi

  Pre-post intervention assessment, after 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive a structured psychological intervention aimed at improving sleep quality and reducing insomnia symptoms. The program includes sleep hygiene education, relaxation techniques, and stimulus control strategies. The intervention will be delivered in weekly group sessions lasting approximately one hour during 7 weeks.

Behavioral: Psychological Program to Improve Sleep Quality

control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will not receive the psychological intervention during the study period. This group will serve as a comparison group to evaluate changes in sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, executive functioning, and academic performance.

Interventions

Psychological Program to Improve Sleep Quality BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of a structured psychological program designed to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia symptoms in female university students. Sleep hygiene: Minimally invasive behavioral recommendations are implemented to establish healthy habits and routines that promote sleep onset and continuity. Relaxation techniques: Strategies are used to decrease physiological and cognitive activation prior to sleep. Stimulus control: This technique aims to reduce the negative association between the bedroom and difficulty sleeping. The intervention is delivered in a structured and supervised format, with the goal of promoting sustainable behavioral and cognitive changes that improve sleep quality. The intervention will be conducted weekly in group sessions lasting approximately one hour. The researcher will administer the intervention.

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Sex: Female
• Age: 18-25
• Chronic insomnia diagnosed by assessment tool.
• Must be university students of any major.
• Must have time available to participate in at least 80% of the sessions.
• Must explicitly express their desire to participate by signing the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Sex: Women in transition or men.
• Psychiatric or neurological diagnosis other than insomnia.
• Use of psychoactive substances.
• Under pharmacological treatment for any medical, psychiatric, or neurological condition, including insomnia.
• Elimination Criteria:
• Voluntary withdrawal
• Absence from more than 20% of sessions.
• Receiving a diagnosis and/or treatment that interferes with the variables evaluated and addressed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Autonoma de Baja California: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California

Mexicali, Estado de Baja California, 21820, Mexico

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

CASANDRA GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS, Mastery

CONTACT

+52 6863530714; casandra.gutierrez@uabc.edu.mx

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Full time Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2026
• First Posted: April 14, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): August 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 15, 2028
• Last Updated: April 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

ME (1)