학술논문

NUTRITIONAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF COGNITIVE STATUS AND SELF-ESTEEM AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE URBAN AREA OF KENITRA (MOROCCO).
Document Type
Article
Source
Acta Neuropsychologica. 2024, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p55-65. 11p.
Subject
*SCHOOL children
*SOCIOECONOMIC factors
*URBAN schools
*NUTRITIONAL assessment
*SELF-esteem
*ACALCULIA
Language
ISSN
1730-7503
Abstract
Low cognitive performance and low self-esteem can be influen - ced by nutritional factors, such as dietary deficiencies, as well as socio-economic aspects including the level of education and economic status. These elements can interact in complex ways, contributing to variations in cognitive performance and self-esteem. It is important to consider all aspects of mental and physical health to fully understand this relationship. A sample of 174 urban schoolchildren, aged between 15 and 19, and hailing from modest socio-economic backgrounds, participated in the study. They underwent a cognitive test (the Raven test) to evaluate their intellectual induction abilities. Additionally, a questionnaire was administered to gauge their socio-economic status. Nutritional status was assessed through various indices, including weight, height, and indicators such as weight-for-age, height-for-age, and emaciation. Self-esteem was measured using the French translation of Pelham and Swann’s self-assessment questionnaire, completed by the students. Neurocognitive abilities exhibited significant correlations with gender, mathematical performance, nutritional status, and the educational level of mothers. Conversely, self-esteem demonstrated correlations with parental education levels and the presence of emaciation. The results of this study highlight a significant relation between malnutrition and neurocognitive abilities, as well as self-esteem in schoolgirls. These findings suggest that nutritional management could play an essential role in preventing self-esteem problems and cognitive difficulties among schoolchildren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]