Which other factors can affect focus & attention?

    Written by:
    Bill Willis

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Morgan Pfiffner, Shyam Jayaraman
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Factors that can adversely affect focus and attention include sleep deprivation, chronic stress, infectious diseases, depression, addiction, unresolved tasks, rumination, and lack of planning. Each of these elements can negatively affect cognitive functions that are related to focus and attention.

    The following factors may adversely affect focus & attention:

    • Sleep: both acute[1] and chronic[2] sleep deprivation can have negative effects on cognition, including focus & attention[3]
    • Chronic stress[4]
    • Infectious disease[5]
    • Depression[6]
    • Addiction and substance abuse[7][8]
    • Incomplete or unresolved tasks[9][10][11][12]
    • Rumination[13]
    • Lack of planning[10]
    Which other factors can affect focus & attention? - Examine