Online Sleep Education for College Student's Sleep Health and Executive Functioning

NCT07765849 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2441114-2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if asynchronous psychoeducational sleep intervention works to improve college students' levels of self-reported sleep health literacy, sleep quality, and executive functioning. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can an educational sleep intervention improve college students' sleep health literacy and sleep quality? Does improved sleep health literacy impact sleep quality? Does improved sleep improve executive functioning in a college student sample? The hypotheses of the present study include the following:

• College students with poor sleep quality will have lower executive functioning
• College students who participate in a brief educational sleep intervention will have more improvements in sleep health literacy compared to college students who do not
• College students who participate in a brief educational sleep intervention will have more improvements in sleep quality compared to college students who do not
• College students who participate in a brief educational sleep intervention will have more improvements in executive functioning compared to college students who do not. Researchers will compare the intervention group to a wait-list control group to see if college students who watch the psychoeducational sleep intervention have more improvements in sleep quality, sleep health literacy, and executive functioning than those who do not. Participants will:
• Complete a pre-intervention survey
• Respond to a post-intervention survey six weeks after the pre-intervention survey
• Be randomly assigned to watch a 30-to 45-minute psychoeducational sleep lecture video either during the pre-intervention survey or after the post-intervention survey

Conditions

Sleep; Executive Functioning; Sleep Hygiene; Health Literacy

Keywords

sleep health literacy; sleep; executive functioning; sleep hygiene; college students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

  This is a 19-item self-report questionnaire used to assess sleep quality, sleep onset latency, total duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction.

  This will be administered at enrollment (pre-intervention), and again in 6-weeks (post-intervention)

• Barkely Deficits in Executive Functioning-Short Form

  This is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that measures deficits in time management, organization, problem solving, self-restraint, self-motivation, and emotion regulation.

  This will be administered at enrollment (pre-intervention), and again in 6-weeks (post-intervention)

• Sleep Health Literacy Scale

  This is a 61-item self-report questionnaire used to measure sleep health communication and sleep health knowledge.

  This will be administered at enrollment (pre-intervention), and again in 6-weeks (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Behavior Change Questions

  This will be administered at enrollment (pre-intervention), and again in 6-weeks (post-intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Wait-List Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The wait-list control group will not receive the 30-to 45-minute psychoeducational sleep lecture video prior to completing post-intervention surveys. Participants assigned to this arm will be granted access to the intervention at the conclusion of the post-intervention survey.

Psychoeducational Sleep Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm will undergo a 30-to 45-minute psychoeducational sleep lecture video. This video will be embedded in the pre-intervention survey packet.

Behavioral: Psychoeducational Sleep Intervention

Interventions

Psychoeducational Sleep Intervention BEHAVIORAL

The present study uses a 30-to 45-minute psychoeducational sleep lecture that is tailored to college students. The lecture reviews topics such as sleep information, trends among college students, and consequences of poor sleep (e.g., on psychosocial, cognitive, and academic functioning). The lecture also includes information about sleep hygiene and stimulus control instructions to provide students with resources for implementing adaptive sleep hygiene behaviors that promote better sleep and functioning. This intervention will be embedded within the pre-intervention survey packet for participants who are randomly assigned to the intervention arm. Participants assigned to the no intervention arm will be granted access to the intervention at the conclusion of the post-intervention survey packet.

Psychoeducational Sleep Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in a U.S. college or university
• Have English language proficiency
• Have internet access
• Have an electronic device to complete an online survey

You may not qualify if:

• Having a diagnosed sleep-wake disorder
• Having a history of treatment for sleep difficulties

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northern Arizona University: lead

Related Publications (19)

• Parrilla MM, Kautiainen RJ, King TZ. Sleep quality and executive function in a diverse sample of healthy young adults. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. 2025 Nov-Dec;32(6):1634-1642. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2297299. Epub 2024 Jan 3.

  PMID: 38170836 BACKGROUND

• Barkley, R. A. (2011). Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning (BDEFS for Adults). Guilford Publications.

  BACKGROUND

• Hershner SD, Chervin RD. Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nat Sci Sleep. 2014 Jun 23;6:73-84. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S62907. eCollection 2014.

  PMID: 25018659 BACKGROUND

• Becerra MB, Bol BS, Granados R, Hassija C. Sleepless in school: The role of social determinants of sleep health among college students. J Am Coll Health. 2020 Feb-Mar;68(2):185-191. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1538148. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

  PMID: 30489219 BACKGROUND

• Billings ME, Cohen RT, Baldwin CM, Johnson DA, Palen BN, Parthasarathy S, Patel SR, Russell M, Tapia IE, Williamson AA, Sharma S. Disparities in Sleep Health and Potential Intervention Models: A Focused Review. Chest. 2021 Mar;159(3):1232-1240. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.09.249. Epub 2020 Sep 30.

  PMID: 33007324 BACKGROUND

• Troynikov O, Watson CG, Nawaz N. Sleep environments and sleep physiology: A review. J Therm Biol. 2018 Dec;78:192-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.09.012. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

  PMID: 30509635 BACKGROUND

• Watson NF, Badr MS, Belenky G, Bliwise DL, Buxton OM, Buysse D, Dinges DF, Gangwisch J, Grandner MA, Kushida C, Malhotra RK, Martin JL, Patel SR, Quan SF, Tasali E. Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult: A Joint Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. Sleep. 2015 Jun 1;38(6):843-4. doi: 10.5665/sleep.4716.

  PMID: 26039963 BACKGROUND

• Nelson KL, Davis JE, Corbett CF. Sleep quality: An evolutionary concept analysis. Nurs Forum. 2022 Jan;57(1):144-151. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12659. Epub 2021 Oct 5.

  PMID: 34610163 BACKGROUND

• Ohayon M, Wickwire EM, Hirshkowitz M, Albert SM, Avidan A, Daly FJ, Dauvilliers Y, Ferri R, Fung C, Gozal D, Hazen N, Krystal A, Lichstein K, Mallampalli M, Plazzi G, Rawding R, Scheer FA, Somers V, Vitiello MV. National Sleep Foundation's sleep quality recommendations: first report. Sleep Health. 2017 Feb;3(1):6-19. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2016.11.006. Epub 2016 Dec 23.

  PMID: 28346153 BACKGROUND

• Hackney JE, Weaver TE, Pack AI. Health literacy and sleep disorders: a review. Sleep Med Rev. 2008 Apr;12(2):143-51. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2007.07.002. Epub 2008 Jan 25.

  PMID: 18222098 BACKGROUND

• American College Health Association. (2024). American College Health Association- National College Health Assessment II: Undergraduate Student Reference Group Data Report Spring 2024 [Report].

  BACKGROUND

• American College Health Association. (2018). American College Health Association- National College Health Assessment II: Undergraduate Student Reference Group Data Report Spring 2018 [Report].

  BACKGROUND

• Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989 May;28(2):193-213. doi: 10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4.

  PMID: 2748771 BACKGROUND

• Feldman EL, Slavish DC. Initial development of a sleep health literacy scale. Sleep Health. 2024 Dec;10(6):683-690. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.08.001. Epub 2024 Sep 26.

  PMID: 39332924 BACKGROUND

• Pantesco EJ, Kan IP. False beliefs about sleep and their associations with sleep-related behavior. Sleep Health. 2022 Apr;8(2):216-224. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2021.10.004. Epub 2021 Nov 26.

  PMID: 34840105 BACKGROUND

• Gellis LA, Lichstein KL. Sleep hygiene practices of good and poor sleepers in the United States: an internet-based study. Behav Ther. 2009 Mar;40(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2008.02.001. Epub 2008 Jul 14.

  PMID: 19187812 BACKGROUND

• Brown, F. C., & Buboltz, W. C., Jr. (2002). Applying sleep research to university students: Recommendations for developing a student sleep education program. Journal of College Student Development, 43(3), 411-416.

  BACKGROUND

• Brown FC, Buboltz WC Jr, Soper B. Relationship of sleep hygiene awareness, sleep hygiene practices, and sleep quality in university students. Behav Med. 2002 Spring;28(1):33-8. doi: 10.1080/08964280209596396.

  PMID: 12244643 BACKGROUND

• Brown FC, Buboltz WC Jr, Soper B. Development and evaluation of the Sleep Treatment and Education Program for Students (STEPS). J Am Coll Health. 2006 Jan-Feb;54(4):231-7. doi: 10.3200/JACH.54.4.231-237.

  PMID: 16450848 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration article that provides basic facts about sleep and tips for better sleep.
• Stanford Medicine Health Care article reviewing stimulus control instructions

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Hygiene

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Marie-Christine Goodworth, PhD

  Northern Arizona University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Kiley D Hawkins, B.S.

  Northern Arizona University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Kiley D Hawkins, B.S.

CONTACT

623-241-2334; kh2874@nau.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Participant group assignment will occur using the Qualtrics Randomizer algorithm. However, participants will know whether they receive the psychoeducational sleep intervention, as outlined in the informed consent document.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. All participants will complete a pre-intervention survey packet. Participants assigned to the intervention group will be granted access to a 30- to 45-minute psychoeducational sleep lecture. Following a 6-week intervention period, all participants will complete a post-intervention survey. Participants assigned to the control group will be granted access to the psychoeducational sleep lecture after completing the post-intervention survey.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 10, 2026
• First Posted: August 14, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share