Attached
Introduction and objectives
The protracted maturation of the prefrontal
cortex (PFC), which extends into adolescence,
provides maximum opportunity for the
different life experiences: Little is known
about the underlying mental systems that mediate the SEX disparities in cognitive
performance. Objective of the study was to
investigate the association of executive
function with socioeconomic status of
adolescents in Galle District.
Method
Cross-sectional study was conducted on
female adolescents (11 to 14 years, n=200) in
Galle District including both rural and urban
schools. Self-administered questionnaire was
applied to assess socioeconomic status of
parents and psychosocial adversity scale was
used to investigate confounders affecting
executive function. Children performed
Computer based executive function test
battery including inhibition task (stop signal
paradigm) and visuo- spatial working memory
task (pig house paradigm).
Results
Mean scores of memory and inhibition tasks
were 21.20 (SD+_7.36) and 672.46
(SD_+169.35) respectively. Inhibition task was
significantly correlated with family income
level (r=0.204: p= 0.001) and psychosocial
adversity score (p<0.05). Performance for
inhibition task of adolescents whose parents
had only primary education was 4l4.89(SD
±137.44), higher than in adolescents whose
parents have studied up to secondary
educational level 386.36 (SD± 115.44). Higher
score for working memory task was observed
among high income families 21.71 (SD ±5.29)
compared to low income families 15.60 (SD
±5.19). Further inhibition task performance
was poor in adolescents' whose parents were
of a low occupational category 739.39 (SD±
230.03) when compared to adolescents of
professionally qualified parents (687.58(SD
±164.31).
Conclusions
Socioeconomic status is an important
predictor of neurocognitive function. Family
Income strongly mediates and parent
education strongly moderates cognitive
function.
