The Relationship Between Breakfast Habits and Levels of Concentration During Study Sessions Among Students at Muhammadiyah University of Palopo

Abstract

Breakfast plays an important role in maintaining glucose availability as the primary energy source for the brain, which may influence cognitive functions, including attention and learning concentration. However, many university students often skip breakfast due to academic demands, lifestyle changes, and irregular eating patterns, potentially affecting their concentration during study sessions. This study aimed to determine the relationship between breakfast habits and study concentration levels among students at Muhammadiyah University of Palopo. This study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach involving 54 students from the Physical Education Study Program at Muhammadiyah University of Palopo. Breakfast habits were assessed using a questionnaire covering the frequency, timing, regularity, and quality of breakfast consumption. Study concentration levels were measured using the Grid Concentration Test (GCT). Data were analyzed using the Spearman’s rank correlation test. The findings indicated that breakfast habits were associated with students’ study concentration levels. Students with healthier breakfast patterns tended to demonstrate better concentration performance during learning activities. These findings support the role of adequate morning nutritional intake in maintaining cognitive performance among university students. This study highlights the importance of promoting healthy breakfast habits among university students as part of strategies to improve academic performance and cognitive function. Further studies with larger samples and longitudinal designs are recommended to explore the causal relationship between breakfast patterns and study concentration.