Associations between obesity and academic enthusiasm and social emotional competence: Moderating effects of gender and sleep quality

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report if there is a difference in obesity according to the gender and sleep quality of primary school students. The participants of this study were 2,607 primary school students in the 4th grade shown in the 2018 (Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey) data. The results of this study are as follows: First, obesity showed a difference according to gender, and there was no difference in terms of sleep quality according to obesity. Second, obesity impacts academic enthusiasm, aggression, and attention of primary school students. In contrast, it was shown that obesity did not impact children’s physical symptoms and self-esteem. Third, according to gender, the associations between obesity and social emotional development and self-esteem were different except for primary school children’s academic enthusiasm, attention, and aggressions. Fourth, sleep quality showed a moderating effect on the social emotional development, including the relationship between obesity and academic enthusiasm and self-esteem.