A Study to Assess Impact of Breakfast
Eating Habit on Cognitive Ability among Adolescents (16-18years) in selected
Pre-University Colleges, Mangalore
Ms. Divya Maria Sunny1, Dr. (Mrs.) Theresa L. Mendonca2
1Laxmi
Memorial College of Nursing, A.J. Towers, Balmatta, Mangalore, Karnataka–575002
India
2Vice Principal
cum HOD Pediatric Nursing, Laxmi Memorial College of Nursing, A.J. Towers,
Balmatta, Mangalore, Karnataka– 575002 India
*Corresponding
Author Email: divyaannmaria3@gmail.com,
leedapga@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT:
Breakfast
is considered the first meal of the day, which is believed to nourish the human
brain with glucose, carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients. It is said that
adolescents are the population who tend to skip breakfast than any other age
group. Thus, a descriptive study was conducted to assess the impact of
breakfast eating habit on cognitive ability among adolescents (16-18 years). Using simple random sampling technique 100 samples
were selected from four pre–university colleges, Mangalore. Data was collected
using a questionnaire on breakfast eating habit and cognitive ability tests
(short term memory test, letter cancellation test, and symbol digit
substitution test) in the morning hours within 11.00 am. The data was analyzed
using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study concluded that,
students with regular breakfast eating habit as opposed to irregular breakfast
eating habit had beneficial influence on cognitive ability tests like
short-term memory test, letter cancellation test and symbol digit substitution
test. Regular breakfast eating habit has positive effect on the cognitive
ability among adolescents.
Keywords: Impact; Cognitive ability; Adolescents; Breakfast
Eating habit.
INTRODUCTION:
Adolescents
are undergoing rapid growth and changes in metabolism due to puberty, marked
changes takes place in physical, intellectual, and emotional growth and
development. Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, serves as a
prerequisite for successful learning after the long nightly fasting period.1
Regular breakfast consumption has a number of positive effects in young people
including: improving dietary adequacy, a decreased risk of being overweight or
obese and improved cognitive function. Eating breakfast on regular basis has
been linked to improved memory, high grades, good attendance and low tiredness.2
The
statistics given by the maternal and best friend’s health watch survey shows
that 68% of pupils eat before leaving home, 32% do not, out of which 25% only
sometimes have a morning meal and 7% never have breakfast on school days, which
has become a matter of concern.3 The reason given for skipping by
boys were lack of time, while many girls missed breakfast because they believe
doing so would help them lose weight.4
Right
nutritious food is an important natural neurochemical that enhances the mental
capabilities, helps in concentration, fine-tune of senses and motor skills,
which is proved to be maintained with a pattern of regular breakfast
consumption. It also keeps a person motivated, reduces stress and perhaps even
precludes brain aging.5 With an increasing number of children and
adolescents skipping breakfast, there is a need for scientific studies
evaluating whether breakfast eating habit has an impact on the cognitive
functioning and cognitive ability of adolescents.
STATEMENT OF
PROBLEM:
A
study was conducted to assess the impact of breakfast eating habit on cognitive
ability among adolescents (16-18 years) in selected pre-university colleges,
Mangalore.
OBJECTIVES OF
THE STUDY:
·
To determine the breakfast eating habit among adolescents.
·
To determine the cognitive ability among adolescents.
·
To compare the difference in the cognitive ability between
regular breakfast eaters and irregular breakfast eaters.
·
To find out the relationship between cognitive ability and
breakfast eating habit among adolescents.
HYPOTHESES:
·
The hypotheses
were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
H1:
There is significant difference in the cognitive
ability of adolescents between regular breakfast eaters and irregular breakfast
eaters.
H2:
There is significant relationship between cognitive
ability and breakfast eating habit among adolescents.
METHODS:
A descriptive research design was adopted to carry
out the study. Population of the study comprised of students of selected
Pre-University colleges (16-18 years), Mangalore. Study was approved by
institutional ethical committee. By using
simple random sampling technique four colleges were selected, out of the three
sections from each college one section was selected randomly. From the
each selected section (both I and II PUC) using simple random sampling
technique (fish bowl method) twenty five students were selected. Thus the
sample comprised of 100 adolescents.
Data was collected after obtaining the written consent from each student.
The tool for data collection has 3 sections (section A, Section B and Section
C).
Section
A:
Demographic
proforma.
Section
B:
Structured
questionnaire on breakfast eating habit - Tool to assess the breakfast eating
pattern of the adolescents.
Section
C:
Includes
tests to assess the cognitive ability of the adolescents. The tests are as
follows: Short-term memory test, Letter cancellation test (–for assessing
eye-hand coordination and attention-concentration) and the digit symbol
substitution test (–for assessing the recall ability). Data was analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS:
·
Demographic data
analysis shows that maximum percentage (52%) of students belonged to the age
group of 17 years. Majority (81%) of students were females. Maximum percentages
(64%) of students were from II year PUC. Highest percentage (47%) of students
were Hindus. Most (91%) of the students came to college from home, least stayed
in the hostel (7%) and as paying guest (1%).
Description
of the breakfast eating habit of sample:
·
Majority (83%) of
students had good level of breakfast eating habit, 17% of students had moderate
level of breakfast eating habit and none of them had poor level of breakfast
eating habit.(fig.1).
Figure
1: Bar Diagram showing the Percentage Distribution of Breakfast Eating Habit
Table
1: Frequency and Percentage Distribution of Sample based on Regularity of
Breakfast Eating Habit N=100
Breakfast eating habit |
Frequency |
Percentage |
Regular
breakfast eating habit |
78 |
78 |
Irregular
breakfast eating habit |
22 |
22 |
·
All were having
breakfast but majority (78%) of the students was having regular breakfast
eating habit. Twenty-two percent of the students had irregular breakfast eating
habit.
Description
of the cognitive ability of sample:
Table
2: Mean and Standard Deviation of Short-Term Memory Test, Letter Cancellation
Test and Symbol Digit Substitution Test according to the Breakfast Eating Habit
N=78+22
Variable |
Mean ± SD |
|
Group I * (n=78) regular
breakfast eaters |
Group II** (n=22) irregular
breakfast eaters |
|
Short-term
memory test |
23.69±2.04 |
18.27±0.36 |
Letter
cancellation test |
43.91±0.40 |
36.72±3.20 |
Symbol
digit substitution test |
19.84±1.26 |
12.36±1.54 |
·
Mean score of
Group I was more than that of Group II in all the three tests of cognitive
ability, namely, short-term memory test (23.69±2.04), letter cancellation test
(43.91±1.40), and symbol digit substitution test (19.84±1.26). Hence, the
cognitive ability of Group I was more than Group II.
Impact
of breakfast eating habit on cognitive ability Comparing the difference between
cognitive ability of regular breakfast eaters and irregular breakfast eaters
Table 3:‘t’
Value showing Significant Difference between Cognitive Ability of Regular
Breakfast Eaters and Irregular Breakfast Eaters
N=78+22
Cognitive ability |
Group I |
Group II |
Mean difference |
‘t’ value |
||
Mean |
SD |
Mean |
SD |
|||
Short-term
memory test |
23.69 |
2.04 |
18.27 |
1.36 |
5.42 |
12.31* |
Letter
cancellation test |
43.91 |
1.40 |
36.72 |
3.20 |
7.19 |
15.91* |
Symbol digit substitution
test |
19.84 |
1.26 |
12.36 |
1.54 |
7.48 |
24.93* |
t98 =1.65,
P<0.05*Significant
Figure 2: Scatter Diagram showing Positive
Correlation between Breakfast Eating Habit and Cognitive Ability
Data
presented in Table 3 shows that there was a significant difference between
cognitive ability between regular breakfast eaters and irregular breakfast
eaters on all the three cognitive ability tests like Short-term memory test,
letter cancellation test and symbol digit substitution test. As the table value
is less than the calculated ‘t’ value (t98 =1.65, P<0.05), the
null hypothesis H01 is rejected and the research hypothesis H1 is
accepted.
Correlation between breakfast eating
habit and cognitive ability
·
There was appositive correlation between breakfast eating habit and
cognitive ability. The correlation was significant (r=0.72, p<0.05).
Table 4: Multiple Regression
Analysis showing, the Prediction of Regular Breakfast Eating Habit Impact on
Cognitive Ability N=100
Dependent variable |
Other variables |
Regression analysis |
Std. Error |
t |
Sig. |
Breakfast
score |
Constant |
10.34 |
6.28 |
1.64 |
0.10 |
Short
Term Memory |
0.22 |
0.11 |
1.94 |
0.05 |
|
Letter
Cancellation |
-0.09 |
0.12 |
-0.76 |
0.44 |
|
Symbol
Digit Substitution |
0.54 |
0.12 |
4.20 |
7.17 |
·
The data
presented in Table 4, shows that the prediction made on regular breakfast
eating habit and cognitive ability was significant, that is, regular breakfast
eating habit has positive impact on cognitive ability among adolescents.
DISCUSSION:
The study demonstrates that majority of the sample
were regular breakfast eaters and had good level of breakfast eating habit,
only 22% of sample had irregular breakfast eating habit. Mean
score of regular breakfast eaters were more than that of the irregular
breakfast eaters in all the three tests of cognitive ability (Short-term Memory
test, Letter Cancellation Test and Symbol Digit Substitution Test) as depicted in the similar study conducted at
National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad with maximum percentage of the
samples consuming breakfast on regular basis, whereas, 33%of samples were
consuming breakfast on irregular basis. 6 findings of the study was
congruent with the study conducted at West Indies, to assess the effect of
missing breakfast on cognitive ability.7 Statistically, our study has revealed significant
difference in the cognitive ability between regular breakfast eaters and
irregular breakfast eaters, as the calculated ‘t’ value was more than that of
the table value(t98=1.65) at 0.05 level of significance. Study also
showed a positive correlation between breakfast eating habit and cognitive
ability. Findings of the study were similar to a cross-sectional study
conducted to assess the association between breakfast eating habits and
cognitive performance among early adolescents aged 11-13 years. Results showed
that regular breakfast eating habits were significantly (P<0.001) associated
with Simultaneous scale and Pattern Reasoning. Regular breakfast eating habits
were also significantly associated with pattern reasoning explaining 31.6%
variation. 8Similarly, a crossover trial conducted at Germany
demonstrated positive short-term effects
of breakfast on cognitive functioning and self-reported alertness in high
school students.9 A congruent study conducted at Ogun state depicted
a strong positive relationship between breakfast and each of academic
performance (r=0.61; N=800, P<0.05), class-participation (r=0.084, N=800 and
<0.05) and recall ability(r=0.921, N=800, P<0.05).10 The
overall findings suggested that the breakfast consumption enhances cognitive
function in the adolescent population
when compared to breakfast omission.9
CONCLUSION:
The
findings of the study revealed that, students with regular breakfast eating
habit as opposed to irregular breakfast eating habit had beneficial influence
on cognitive ability. Thus, the study proves that regular breakfast eating
habit has positive effect on the cognitive ability among adolescents.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
Author would like to
express heartfelt thanks with deep sense of gratitude to all the students who formed the core
and basis of the study with their wholehearted cooperation and also for the
administrators of pre-university colleges for granting permission which has
helped the author to complete the study successfully.
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Received on 08.07.2015 Modified
on 27.07.2015
Accepted on 20.08.2015 © A&V Publication all right reserved
Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research 3(4):
Oct.-Dec., 2015; Page 433-436
DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2015.00035.6