Association between lifestyle, parental smoke, socioeconomic status, and academic performance in Japanese elementary school children: the Super Diet Education Project

Abstract

Background Health and education are closely linked. However, few studies have explored the correlates of children’s academic performance in Japan. We aimed to investigate comprehensively the associations of low academic performance among school children with lifestyles, parental smoke, and socioeconomic status. Methods In 2016, children aged 6 to 13 years from the Super Diet Education School Project were surveyed using questionnaires. The survey explored the lifestyles and subjective academic performance of 1663 children and asked their parents about parental smoke and subjective socioeconomic status. Academic performance and socioeconomic status were divided into three levels. Then, we defined subjective academic performance in the lower two levels as low academic performance. The odds ratios (OR) were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results Among all participants, 299 (18.0%) children reported low academic performance. In general, low academic performance was significantly associated with late wakeup time (OR = 1.36 for 6:30 to < 7 a.m. and OR = 2.48 for ≥ 7 a.m.), screen time ≥ 2 h (OR = 1.35), studying at home < 1 h (OR = 1.82), paternal smoke (OR = 1.47), maternal smoke (OR = 1.87), and low socioeconomic status (OR = 1.48). Analyses stratified by grade showed stronger associations between academic performance and socioeconomic status in senior (OR = 1.62 for middle, OR = 1.52 for low in grades 4 to 6) than in junior children (OR = 1.15 for middle, OR = 1.38 for low in grades 1 to 3). Conclusions Children’s lifestyles, parental smoke, and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with low academic performance among Japanese children. Parents and health care providers should take these findings into consideration to prevent children from having low academic performance.

The Effect of Eating Habits’ Quality on Scholastic Performance in Turkish Adolescents

“…These relationships have been identified and supported by the findings of other researchers in a variety of settings. In a recent study conducted in Japan, Yamada and collaborators showed that children s poor lifestyles and low socioeconomic status were significantly associated with low academic performance among Japanese children [19]. In separate studies, also in Japan, Nakahori et al, concluded that a good home environment relates to children s good dietary behaviors, positive lifestyle factors, and good overall health.…”

Social and Family Factors as Determinants of Exercise Habits in Japanese Elementary School Children: The Super Shokuiku School Project

“…January 2016) [10,20] and who belonged to one of five elementary schools in Takaoka City, Japan participated in this study. The Super Shokuiku School Project was designed to investigate food education and was supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).…”

“…Social background was assessed based on the following items: Mother's employment status, family structure, perceived family affluence, communication with parents, individual parental internet usage at home h/day (i.e., both the mother and father), and parental health behaviors according to Breslow (1980) (i.e., both the mother and father). The item concerning "mother's employment status" [20,22] included three response categories (i.e., "full-time," "part-time," and "unemployed (housewife)"), while "family structure" [22,23] was categorized as either "three-generation family" or "nuclear family." Further, "socioeconomic status" was determined according to perceived "family affluence" [20,22] (i.e., "affluent," "neither," or "not affluent"), while "communication with parents" [22,24] was categorized as either "often" or "rarely."…”

“…The item concerning "mother's employment status" [20,22] included three response categories (i.e., "full-time," "part-time," and "unemployed (housewife)"), while "family structure" [22,23] was categorized as either "three-generation family" or "nuclear family." Further, "socioeconomic status" was determined according to perceived "family affluence" [20,22] (i.e., "affluent," "neither," or "not affluent"), while "communication with parents" [22,24] was categorized as either "often" or "rarely." We also asked for the total time parents spent using the internet at home h/day.…”

“…The question about "screen time h/day" for children included television and film viewing, gaming, and internet use [20]. Here, responses were given according to a 6-point scale and divided into the two categories of "< 2h (no, almost none, <1h, and < 2h )" and "≧2h (< 3h, 3 to < 4h, and ≧4h)."…”