Selective Attention and Concentration Are Related to Lifestyle in Chilean Schoolchildren

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to determine the association between selective attention and concentration with physical fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), V˙O2max, the standing long jump test (SLJ) and handgrip muscle strength (HGS)), lifestyle parameters (i.e., physical activity (PA) level, screen time (ST), sleep duration and food habits) and anthropometric measures (i.e., body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) among Chilean schoolchildren. Two hundred and forty-eight schoolchildren (137 boys, 111 girls, 11.80 ± 1.17 and 11.58 ± 1.09 years, respectively) participated. Selective attention, concentration and lifestyle (PA, ST, sleep duration and Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence) were determined using a standard questionnaire. CRF, SLJ, HGS and anthropometric indicators (BMI and WC) were also measured. Selective attention showed a positive association with MD adherence score (β; 5.012, p = p < 0.05). Concentration was linked inversely to ST (β; −5.498, p = p < 0.05). Likewise, concentration presented a positive association with MD adherence (β; 2.904, p = p < 0.05). In conclusion, children’s lifestyles are related to the selective attention and concentration of children; therefore, promoting healthy habits could be a cost-effective strategy in the promotion of cognitive development, as it relates to selective attention and concentration.

A Better Cardiopulmonary Fitness Is Associated with Improved Concentration Level and Health-Related Quality of Life in Primary School Children

“…Contrary to our findings, selective attention and concentration did not interact with PF parameters in the Chilean study [ 28 ]. However, in our data, estimated VO2max (β = 0.163, p < 0.001) showed a significant association with concentration levels.…”

“…Caamaño-Navarrete et al [ 28 ] found similar results in fitness levels as we did in our population sample. Chilean boys showed significantly better scores in estimated VO2max, HG, and SLJ than Chilean girls.…”

“…However, in our data, estimated VO2max (β = 0.163, p < 0.001) showed a significant association with concentration levels. These contrary findings could be explained by a huge difference in sample size, as Caamaño-Navarrete et al [ 28 ] used the same tests to determine concentration levels, but analyzed a considerably smaller sample size ( n = 248 vs. n = 752). The percentage of variance explained was not extremely strong with a corrected r2 of 0.078.…”

“…The percentage of variance explained was not extremely strong with a corrected r2 of 0.078. Nevertheless, parts of the model were explained by cardiorespiratory fitness, which means fitter kids can focus better on their given tasks [ 28 ]. PF and concentration are also linked to academic performance [ 29 ].…”

“…Children’s health is also influenced by behavioral factors and cognition [ 1 ]. Studies reported positive associations between concentration (as a factor of cognition) and PF in children aged 10–12 years [ 28 , 29 ]. Furthermore, a higher PF seems to be linked to better academic performance [ 29 , 30 ].…”