From sluggish to flourish: The relationship between inhibitory control, sleep quality, and flourishing outcomes among young adults

Background: Flourishing encompasses the holistic wellbeing of an individual. Previous studies have shown that sleep quality predicted flourishing outcomes, and inhibitory control predicted sleep quality with bedtime procrastination as a partial mediator. As the effect of inhibitory control and sleep quality is pervasive across many areas of life, this study aims to examine the association between these variables and to provide insight on drivers for leading a flourishing life.
Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational research design was adopted. Sixty-nine Chinese participants aged between 18-29 (M=22.77, SD=2.95) completed both a comprehensive online self-reported survey assessing impulsivity, self-control, conscientiousness, bedtime procrastination, subjective sleep quality, and flourishing outcomes; and objective measures assessing the inhibition of cognitive interference (Emotional Conflict Task) and objective sleep quality indices using the PRO-Diary Actigraphy watch.
Results: Mediation analyses using SPSS PROCESS Macro Model 6 revealed that the association between some domains of inhibitory control (i.e., self-control and conscientiousness) and global flourishing outcomes were serially mediated by bedtime procrastination and subjective sleep quality.
Conclusion: The current study is novel in using both subjective and objective measures for inhibitory control and sleep quality, and in establishing the direct and indirect relationships between inhibitory control and global flourishing outcomes through bedtime procrastination and sleep quality. Findings may suggest that divergent strategies focused on improving inhibitory control, reducing bedtime procrastination behaviours, and improving sleep quality may promote more flourishing outcomes. All rights reserved.