Socio - economic disparities and psychosocial adversities which affect prefrontal function of early adolescence

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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.