Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) and Psychological Ill-Being in Young Adults Using the Adult Concentration Inventory (ACI)

Abstract

Background: Young adulthood is a demanding developmental stage, in that individuals are often faced with making major and long-lasting decisions related to career and family. This is also a heightened time of mental health difficulties. There is recent evidence that cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS; previously sluggish cognitive tempo) may also be more prevalent in young adults and associated with poorer functioning. However, the relation between CDS symptoms and anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia remains insufficiently investigated among young adults. Given this, the aims of the present study were as follows: (1) to investigate the associations between CDS and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia; (2) to investigate if and which dimensions of ill-being were more robustly related to higher CDS scores; (3) to explore if stress scores moderated the associations between CDS symptoms and insomnia; and (4) to explore if higher insomnia categories were associated with higher CDS scores. Methods: A total of 246 young adult students in Switzerland (mean age = 22.62; 56.3% females) completed a booklet of questionnaires covering socio-demographic information, cognitive disengagement syndrome (Adult Concentration Inventory; ACI), and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia as part of this cross-sectional study. Results: Higher CDS scores on the ACI were associated with higher scores for depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia were independently associated with higher scores for CDS. Higher categories of stress moderated the associations between higher CDS scores and higher insomnia. Higher insomnia categories were related to higher CDS scores. Conclusions: The present data showed that among a small sample of young adult students, higher CDS scores were associated with higher psychological ill-being (depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia). If we consider CDS as a trait, specific performance-enhancing medication or psychotherapeutic interventions might favorably influence dimensions of psychological ill-being such as depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.

Keywords: adolescence; adult concentration inventory (ACI); anxiety; cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS); depression; insomnia; sluggish cognitive tempo; stress.

Figure 1

Associations between CDS and insomnia scores, moderated by stress categories.