Vol. 11, Special Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Suvarna Maigur and Manjula Patil

Abstract:
A breakfast is considered as a vital meal of the day. Breakfast is an important factor in the health of children as the body is low in reserve energy and there is need for frequent supply of needed energy for a day. A study was conducted to examine the influence of familial factors on breakfast consumption and cognitive skills of higher primary school children at the University of Agricultural Science dharwad (2021-22). Study sample comprised of 60 children from rural and 60 children from urban in Dharwad district who attended higher primary school. Breakfast consumption was assessed by using self-structured questionnaire. Socio economic status developed by Aggarwal et al. (2005) was assessed by family economic status. The cognitive skills of children were assessed by using Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale for School Children (WISC-III). Results revealed that, type of family and food habits of family had significant influence in urban irregular breakfast consumers. There was significant association in size of family and socio-economic status of family, regular and irregular breakfast consumers in both rural and urban areas. Thus study results indicate that, Health and education ministries should collaborate and provide intervention programmes to children and formulate policies and strategies to foster the role of teachers and parents in reducing breakfast skipping among children.