Sociodemographic influences on Student Mental Health and their association with activation-regulating functional impairments
Mohammad Fraiwan, Fidaa Almomani, Hanan Hammouri
TL;DR
This study explores how sociodemographic factors and lifestyle habits affect university students' mental health and their ability to manage tasks and attention.
Contribution
The study identifies specific sociodemographic and behavioral factors linked to activation dysfunction in university students, particularly among Generation Z.
Findings
High smartphone and social media use correlates with worse activation dysfunction symptoms.
Strong family relationships and regular exercise are associated with better activation function scores.
Fast food consumption and weak family ties are linked to increased activation dysfunction.
Abstract
Activation-regulating functions, grounded in Executive Function Theory, Self-Regulation Theory, and the Dysexecutive (DEX) Framework, refer to higher-order cognitive processes such as task initiation, sustained attention, planning, and prioritization that enable individuals to translate intentions into goal-directed action. In the university context, these functions are central to managing complex academic demands, organizing study activities, meeting deadlines, and maintaining engagement. Impairments in activation-regulating functions may increase stress, undermine motivation, and negatively affect mental health and overall well-being, particularly in the presence of persistent digital distractions such as smartphone use. This self-reported cross-sectional study involved 1204 participants and utilized the validated Arabic version of the activation dysexecutive questionnaire. Alongside…
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Taxonomy
TopicsImpact of Technology on Adolescents · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies