scholarly journals Examining the relationship between adolescent health behaviors, brain health, and academic achievement using fNIRS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Papasideris ◽  
Adrian Safati ◽  
Hasan Ayaz ◽  
Plinio Morita ◽  
Peter Hall
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Adolescent Health ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Interference Task ◽  
Adolescent Health Behaviors ◽  
Math Grades

Background: Several adolescent health behaviors have been hypothesized to improve academic performance via their beneficial impact on cognitive control and functional aspects of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Specifically, exercise, restorative sleep, and proper diet are thought to improve PFC function, while substance abuse is thought to reduce it. Few studies have examined the relationships among all of these in the same sample, while quantifying downstream impacts on academic performance. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to examine the association between lifestyle behaviors and academic performance in a sample of adolescents, and to examine the extent to which activity within the PFC and behavioural indices of inhibition may mediate this relationship. Methods: Sixty-seven adolescents underwent two study sessions five days apart. Sleep and physical activity were measured using wrist-mounted accelerometry; eating habits, substance use and academic achievement were measured by self-report. Prefrontal function was quantified by performance on the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT), and task-related brain activity via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results: Higher levels of accelerometer-assessed physical activity predicted higher MSIT accuracy scores (β= .321, ρ= 0.019) as well as greater task-related increases in activation within the right dlPFC (β=.008, SE= .004, ρ =.0322). Frequency of fast-food consumption and substance use were both negatively associated with MSIT accuracy scores (β= -.307, ρ= .023) and Math grades (𝛽= -3.702, 𝑆𝐸= 1.563, ρ= .022) respectively. However, these effects were not mediated by indicators of PFC function. Conclusion: Physical activity and eating behaviors predicted better interference task performance in adolescents, with the former mediated by greater task-related increases in right dlPFC activation. Substance use predicted worse Math grades, however, no other reliable effects of health behaviors on academic outcomes were evident.

scholarly journals An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 953 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sehrish Naveed ◽  
Timo Lakka ◽  
Eero A. Haapala
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health

Unhealthy diet has been associated with overweight, obesity, increased cardiometabolic risk, and recently, to impaired cognition and academic performance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between health behaviors and cognition and academic achievement in children and adolescents under 18 years of age with a special reference to diet quality. Dietary patterns with a low consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, and high in fast food, sausages, and soft drinks have been linked to poor cognition and academic achievement. The studies on the associations between the high intake of saturated fat and red meat and low intake of fiber and high-fiber grain products with cognition are limited. The available evidence and physiological mechanisms suggest that diet may have direct, indirect, and synergistic effects on brain and cognition with physical activity, sedentary behaviors, cardiometabolic health, and sleep, but the associations have been modest. Therefore, integrating a healthy diet, physically active lifestyle, and adequate sleep may provide optimal circumstances for brain development and learning. We conclude that most of the existing literature is contained in cross-sectional studies, which therefore highlights the need for longitudinal and intervention studies on the effects of diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep on cognition and academic performance.

Associations of Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement Among Illinois High School Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Marie Weemer ◽  
Olabode Ayodele
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Relationship

The health benefits of physical activity are empirically supported and well accepted. However, the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and academic performance remains to be clearly established. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement among a sample of Illinois high school students. Analyses were based on the 2016–2017 school year Archival Fitnessgram physical fitness test scores and cumulative GPAs of ninth- through twelfth-grade students (N = 371). Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance. Multiple linear regression predicted students’ academic achievement. There was a positive association between total fitness and academic achievement, although not statistically significant, r (369) = .002, p = .49. The regression prediction model was statistically significant (p < .001) and accounted for approximately 25% of the variance in academic achievement (R2 = .256, adjusted R2 = .246). Academic achievement was predicted by total number of absences and gender, and to a lesser extent by socio­economic status, the curl-up, and ethnicity. The findings of this study suggest a positive association between physical fitness and academic achievement. These results are potentially relevant to the development of future education policies. Thus, policy makers, school administrators, and educators must use the knowledge gained in this study, along with existing research, as evidence to emphasize the importance of the fitness–academic link, to further support the need for quality physical education curriculum and mandated physical fitness testing.

scholarly journals EnCLASS: an innovative project merging 2 international surveys (HBSC/ESPAD) among French students

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Godeau ◽  
V Ehlinger ◽  
S Spilka
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High School ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Adolescent Health ◽  
International Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Health Promotion In Schools

Abstract Problem For two decades, France has taken part in two “competing” school-based, cross-national surveys exploring the health behaviors and well-being of adolescent (Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, 11-13-15 year-olds) and their substance use (European School Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD), 15-16 year-olds). Description of problem Since 2010, French data is provided at national level by grade rather than age. This allowed providing a continuous observation of health behaviors among adolescents, looking at the temporal spread of substance use and providing a better understanding of the role of school as a setting for adolescents’ health. But the difficulty of participating every 4 years in two big surveys remained. Effects of changes In 2018, France decided to conduct the 2 surveys in a unified and simultaneous way across middle- and high-school. This project is called ’National Survey in Middle- and High-school for Adolescents on Health and Substances’, EnCLASS, explicit acronym easy to pronounce and remember in French. If the main objective of “merging” these surveys is to improve the monitoring of health behaviours and substance use throughout adolescence, it also allows a significant gain regarding preparation, coordination and organization of the fieldwork, hence of overall costs, while ensuring perfect comparability of data at international level. Evolution of data visualization on substance use will be used to illustrate the challenges and improvements of such a process, based on data collected in 2018 among more than 20,000 representative secondary-school students. Lessons In addition to a greater facility of interpreting and reading findings, presenting data throughout secondary school grades improves its impact and use in a public health perspective and allowing identifying operational targets for prevention and health promotion in schools, as classes are their main settings. Key messages EnCLASS is unique in Europe, it ensures an excellent comparability of data at international level while providing an innovative national monitoring of adolescent health behavior, including drug use. Further, by its improved quality, perspective and relevance, EnCLASS can contribute to Public health policies analysis regarding school-students in France in a less expensive and better way.

The Self-Conceptions and Health Behaviors of Larger Women: Examining the Mediating Role of Affect

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Ebbeck ◽  
Patti Lou Watkins ◽  
Susan S. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Physique Anxiety ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
Multivariate Relationships

This study examined possible determinants of some of the health behaviors of larger women. Specifically, it was of interest to discern if affect (depression, social physique anxiety) mediated the relationship between self-conceptions (global self-worth, perceived physical appearance) and behavior (disordered eating, physical activity). The investigation was grounded in the model of self-worth forwarded by Harter (1987). A total of 71 overweight or obese women agreed to participate in the study. Data collection involved a researcher meeting individually with each of the participants to record physical assessments as well as responses to a packet of self-report questionnaires. A series of canonical correlation analyses were then conducted to test each of the three conditions for mediation effects outlined by Baron and Kenny (1986). Results suggested that indeed the set of self-conceptions indirectly influenced the set of behaviors via the set of affect variables. Surprisingly, however, involvement in physical activity failed to contribute to the multivariate relationships. The findings further our understanding of how self-conceptions are related to behavior and highlight the value of examining multiple health behaviors in parallel.

scholarly journals A positive psychology–motivational interviewing intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes: Proof-of-concept trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M Celano ◽  
Taylor A Gianangelo ◽  
Rachel A Millstein ◽  
Wei-Jean Chung ◽  
Deborah J Wexler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Motivational Interviewing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Medical Outcomes

Objective Eighteen million Americans with type 2 diabetes (T2D) do not follow recommended guidelines for physical activity. Motivational interviewing (MI) has had modest effects on activity and related behaviors in T2D. Positive psychological attributes (e.g., optimism) are associated with superior medical outcomes in T2D, and positive psychology (PP) interventions promote such attributes. There had been no study in T2D of a combined PP–MI intervention to promote well-being and health behavior adherence. We developed a novel, telephone-delivered, 16-week PP–MI intervention and explored its feasibility and impact in T2D patients in a single-arm, proof-of-concept trial. Method Participants completed PP-based exercises and MI-based physical activity goal-setting activities and reviewed these activities weekly with a study trainer for 16 weeks. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed via exercise completion rates and post-exercise ratings of ease/utility (0–10 scales). Impact was explored by examining changes in physical activity (via accelerometers and self-report), other health behaviors, psychological measures, and medical outcomes (e.g., hemoglobin A1c (A1C)) from baseline to 16 weeks, using paired t tests. Results Twelve participants enrolled, and 10 provided follow-up data. Seventy-eight percent of PP–MI activities were completed, and participants rated the PP–MI content and sessions as easy (mean = 8.2/10, standard deviation (SD) = 1.9) and useful (mean = 9.1/10, SD = 1.5). PP–MI was associated with improved adherence to health behaviors and overall self-care, variable effects on accelerometer-measured activity and psychological outcomes, and modest beneficial effects on body mass index and A1C. Conclusion Further testing of this intervention is warranted in a larger, controlled trial to assess its effects on important health outcomes.

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