title: Divided attention of adolescents related to lifestyles and academic and family conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Development of the ability to divide attention is of crucial importance in the transitional period from elementary to junior high school. The relationship between divided attention and the prevalence of fatigue or low academic motivation is observed in junior high school students. In order to clarify the factors underlying decreased ability to divide attention, we examined the relationships between divided attention, as assessed by the kana pick-out test, lifestyle factors, and academic and family conditions in junior high school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 158 healthy 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-grade level junior high school students. Each participant performed the kana pick-out test and questionnaires dealing with lifestyle factors (nocturnal sleeping hours on school days, breakfast, exercise, watching television, and spending time with family members), and academic and family conditions (good friendships at school and praise from family members when participants showed good academic performance).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On multiple regression analyses adjusted for grade and gender, scores on the kana pick-out test were positively associated with spending time with family members. In addition, the comprehension score of the kana pick-out test was positively associated with having breakfast every day and praise by family members. The score was negatively associated with watching television.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that the ability to divide attention is independently associated with good lifestyles and academic and family conditions in junior high school students.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Probe Dynamics Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Molecular Imaging Science, 6-7-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan. keimizuno@riken.jp
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imai-Matsumura
authors.forename: Yasuyoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires