Factors associated with cognitive ability among 12- to 13-year-old Malay adolescents from selected urban schools in Gombak, Malaysia
Adolescence is a transitional period where the brain matures to achieve its adult structure and functions. However, many factors tend to influence cognition in a multidirectional manner during this period. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine factors associated with cognitive ability...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/75310/1/FPSK%28M%29%202013%2048%20IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | Adolescence is a transitional period where the brain matures to achieve its adult
structure and functions. However, many factors tend to influence cognition in a
multidirectional manner during this period. This cross-sectional study aimed to
determine factors associated with cognitive ability among 12 to 13 year-old (M=12.4,
SD=0.5) Malay adolescents from selected urban schools in Gombak, Selangor
(N=416; male=161, female=255). Socio-demographic background including parents’
education level and monthly household income was obtained from parents through a
short questionnaire. A questionnaire on meal consumption, personality, eating
attitudes, sleep quality, chronic sleep reduction, physical activity and pubertal
development was administered in class. Height, weight and waist circumference
were measured. Body mass index (BMI)-for-age, height-for-age and waist-to-height
ratio were determined. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to
determine habitual dietary intake and 24-hour dietary recall was used to determine current nutrient intake. Dietary patterns were constructed using principal component
factor analysis. Cognitive ability was assessed using Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of
Ability (WNV) in a one-to-one manner.
There were 38.7% boys and 61.3% girls. A majority of the adolescents’ fathers
attained tertiary education (50.0%), while a majority of their mothers attained
secondary education (47.2%). Most boys were in the mid-pubertal development
(37.0%), while most girls were in the late pubertal development (70.9%). The
prevalence of overweight and obesity were 20.4% and 15.1% respectively. About
38.7% of the adolescents skipped breakfast, 34.4% skipped lunch and 31.2% skipped
dinner at least once in a week. The mean energy intake per day was 1748 kcal
(SD=548). For personality, the mean score for neuroticism (M=2.9, SD=0.6) was
low, while the mean scores for conscientiousness (M=3.2, SD=0.5), extraversion
(M=3.3, SD=0.5), openness to experience (M=3.4, SD=0.5) and agreeableness
(M=3.6, SD=0.5) were moderate. It was found that 20.5% of the adolescents were at
risk for disordered eating. The mean sleeping duration was 8.8 hours (SD=1.5), while
the mean score for sleep quality was 13.4 (SD=2.0). For chronic sleep reduction, the
mean score was 35.2 (SD=4.9). Scores for physical activity was moderate (M=2.4,
SD=0.6). Four major dietary patterns were extracted from the principal component
factor analysis and labelled as refined-grain pattern, snack-food pattern, plant-based
food pattern and high-energy food pattern. The mean score for general cognitive
ability was 101.8 (SD=12.4).
Monthly household income (r=0.235, p<0.001), high-energy food pattern (r=-0.11,
p<0.05), carbohydrate intake (r=0.10, p<0.05), openness to experience (r=0.212,p<0.001), physical activity (r=0.097, p<0.05) and sleep duration (r=-0.104, p<0.05)
were associated with general cognitive ability. Adolescents whose fathers had
tertiary education (t=5.28, p<0.001), not skipping dinner (t=4.26, p<0.001) and rarely
snacked (t=2.73, p<0.01) scored better on the cognitive tests compared to adolescents
whose fathers had secondary education and below, skipped dinner and snacked.
Multiple linear regression analysis showed that monthly household income,
consumption of dinner, openness to experience, carbohydrate intake, high-energy
food pattern and father’s education level explained 21.6% of the variances in
cognitive ability (F=14.76, p<0.001). Therefore, adolescents should be encouraged to
consume dinner regularly, decrease consumption of high-energy foods and be more
open to experience. |
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