Date of Award
2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Neurosciences
Department
Interdisciplinary Neuroscience
First Advisor
Lisa Weyandt
Abstract
Few studies have investigated how comorbidity, the presence of two or more distinct disorders in an individual, is related to executive functioning impairments. Executive functioning consists of cognitive processes that control planning and goal-oriented behavior and contribute to perceived quality of life, physical health, and job performance. Impairments in executive functioning in young adults are associated with poorer academic performance and psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. The present study investigated whether A) college students with symptoms characteristic of comorbid major depressive disorder and anxiety would self-report impaired executive functioning and a lower grade point average (GPA) compared to those with symptoms of either depression or anxiety alone, and B) college students with singular or comorbid symptoms would report impaired executive functioning and a lower GPA than those without symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. A sample of 77 undergraduate college students completed self-report measures of executive functioning, anxiety symptomatology, depression symptomatology, and GPA. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to test hypotheses A and B. Results supported that executive functioning was significantly different between symptomatology groups, with comorbid disorder symptoms resulting in greater executive functioning impairments compared to singular disorder symptoms or no symptoms. There was no significant difference in grade point average between groups based on symptomatology.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Thompson, Lauren, "EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING IN COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH COMORBID ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS" (2021). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 1960.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/1960