The Association Between Lifestyles And Study Time With Academic Performance Among Secondary School Students In Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Academic achievement plays a crucial role for the successful development of a person in society. It is thought to be linked to positive outcomes that are valued in the society and is thought to be contributed by many factors such as sleep, healthy diet, sufficient physical activity and studying being the major adjustable contributors (1). Hence, the purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of time spent studying by students, adopted dietary practices, sleeping patterns and physical activities as well as to determine the extent to which they affect academic performances of the secondary school students in Malaysia.

Methods: The study was conducted among secondary school students in Malaysia. A total of 152 respondents were recruited through a convenience sampling method. A self- administered questionnaire was adapted based on the NHMS as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and was distributed online.

Results: Overall, most secondary school students in Malaysia spend 0-2 hours studying outside the classroom per day (65.1%), follow poor dietary practices (89.5%), sleep ≥8 hours per day (54.6%), and are physically inactive (64.5%). There was a statistically significant association between study time and academic performance (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant association between dietary practices, sleeping patterns, and physical activity with academic performance (p>0.05).

Conclusion: As a whole, despite the consensus that a healthy lifestyle and more time spent studying would have a positive impact on academic performances, our research shows that only study time has a significant association with academic performance.