Breakfast habits, sleep patterns, and family characteristics as indicators of students' academic achievement

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the academic achievement of primary, secondary, high school, and university students and their breakfast habits, sleep patterns, and family demographic characteristics. The sample of the study consists of a total of 1,059 students (primary, secondary, high school, and university) studying on the European side of Istanbul. To collect the data, the Breakfast and Sleep Habits Questionnaire (KUAA), developed by the researcher, was used. In the analysis of the data, the Chi-Square Test was employed in the first stage of the study. In the second stage, the independent samples t-test was conducted to determine the relationship between certain personal variables of the students and their academic achievement. The results of the first stage indicated that students living with their families had higher rates of eating breakfast and sleeping. Students whose parents were high school graduates were found to eat breakfast at higher rates; likewise, students whose mothers were not employed and fathers were employed had higher rates of eating breakfast. The results of the second stage revealed that male students, those who ate breakfast, those who slept 8 h or more, those whose parents had higher levels of education, those whose fathers were employed, those living with their families, and those at the primary and high school levels had significantly higher academic achievement. However, no significant difference was found in the academic grades of students with employed versus unemployed mothers. In the third stage of the study, students who did not eat breakfast in the mornings were asked for their reasons. Their responses centered on lack of appetite, insufficient time, and morning drowsiness. When asked why they fall asleep in class, students' answers clustered around the following reasons: especially when sleep-deprived, when the lesson was boring, and when they felt tired. The findings of the study were discussed within the framework of the literature, and recommendations were provided.