Breakfast consumption as a test anxiety predictor among paramedical students

Abstract

Context: Having breakfast is an important part of healthy eating behaviors. Based on evidence, it is effective in improving cognitive and psychological performance of individuals. Aims: The purpose of this study is the examination of having breakfast association with test anxiety of paramedical students. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Qom University of Medical Sciences (QUMS), Qom, Iran. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty-three university students were selected from paramedical faculty of QUMS through random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire (demographic information and test anxiety inventory) was used for data gathering. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using logistic regression to examine the association between breakfast consumption and test anxiety. Results: The prevalence of skipping breakfast was 40.1%. In the multivariate logistic regression model, it was found that being male (odds ratio [OR]: 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–0.94) and breakfast consumption (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30–0.95) had a significant relationship with lower test anxiety. Conclusion: It was found that the considerable number of students skip breakfast. Therefore, based on the significant relationship between breakfast skipping and higher level of test anxiety, it is important to identify the causes of breakfast skipping.