Lifestyle factors influencing the academic performance among the secondary school students in an urban area of south India

Avinash Kavi; Padmaja R. Walvekar

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2020-0091

Article

Lifestyle factors influencing the academic performance among the secondary school students in an urban area of south India

Avinash Kavi and Padmaja R. Walvekar

Published/Copyright: September 4, 2020

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From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 34 Issue 5

Abstract

Objective

School children are exposed to various social, environmental, nutritional and cultural changes which will influence their lifestyle and can impose behavioral change. This study was formulated to assess the lifestyle factors influencing the academic performance among secondary school students in an urban area of south India.

Materials and Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted among secondary school students of grade 8, 9 and 10 in public and private schools of an urban area. Data was collected using a pre-designed, pretested, questionnaire. Demographic data and socio-economic status was assessed. Lifestyle assessment included the dietary habits, physical activity, tobacco and other substance use and anthropometric measurements. Academic performance was assessed by attendance, past annual examination grades. Results were expressed in percentages and analysis was done using Chi-square test and Fischer exact test.

Results

Study participants included were 613. Overall prevalence of tobacco use 14.0%. Skipping breakfast was associated with poor performance (p=0.002) among public school students. Private school students’ academic performance was significantly associated with the BMI (p=0.03). Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity was 70.5, 5.0 and 5.5% respectively. Physical activity didn’t show any significant influence on academic performance (p=0.69, 0.76).

Conclusion

Academic performance of secondary school students is influenced by various factors including, regularity of attendance, socio-economic status, skipping breakfast and consumption of tobacco and other substances. Study establishes the need for proper motivation and reinforcement of safe healthy lifestyle practices to achieve complete academic excellence.

Corresponding author: Dr. Avinash Kavi, MD, DNB, Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, 590010, Karnataka, India. Phone: +91 9538309785, E-mail: dravinashkavi@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

We thank the school Principals for granting permission to conduct the study. We thank the students who participated in the study and the staff of concerned schools who extended their co-operation during data collection. We are also grateful to the staff of Urban Health Centre, Ashok Nagar, Belagavi for the support.

Research funding: This was a self-funded study.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Conflicts of Interests: The authors report no relationship or financial interest with any entity that would pose a conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical Approval: Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi. All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments (inc. 2013) or comparable ethical standards. Assent was obtained from the school Principals and parents after a full explanation of the nature, purpose, and procedures used for the study.
Presentation at a Meeting: Nil

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Received: 2020-04-27

Accepted: 2020-08-09

Published Online: 2020-09-04

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