Contribution of Nutritional Status to the Learning Achievement of Eighth-Grade Students at SMPN 5 Mataram in 2023

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the contribution of nutritional status to the learning achievement of eighth-grade students at SMPN 5 Mataram in 2023.

Materials and Methods: This study used a quantitative approach. Data were collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire, measurements of body weight and height to determine nutritional status, and students’ report card scores to assess learning achievement. The sample consisted of 75 students selected from a total population of 120 eighth-grade students at SMPN 5 Mataram. Data were analyzed using the Pearson Chi-square test with the assistance of SPSS version 20.

Results: The results showed that nutritional status had a statistically significant relationship with learning achievement in Indonesian language subjects (p = 0.019) and science subjects (p = 0.029), as both values were lower than the significance level of 0.05. In contrast, there was no statistically significant relationship between nutritional status and learning achievement in mathematics (p = 0.051), as the value was higher than 0.05. These findings indicate that nutritional status contributed to student learning achievement, although the strength of the relationship differed across subjects.

Conclusions: Nutritional status was significantly associated with students’ learning achievement in Indonesian and science, but not in mathematics. Overall, the study supports the view that nutritional status contributes to academic achievement among eighth-grade students at SMPN 5 Mataram in 2023.