Exploring the interplay of neuropsychological functions, psychological wellbeing, and lifestyle through principal component analysis: a comprehensive study

Introduction: A balanced psychological wellbeing and healthy lifestyle—which includes regular physical activity and the prevention of alcohol and tobacco use—are relevant for neuropsychological functioning. We aimed to analyze the association between adolescent psychological wellbeing, physical activity, and ever having used alcohol and tobacco with neuropsychological principal components (PC). Method: This cross-sectional research used the baseline data from a sample of 523 healthy adolescents enrolled in the Walnuts Smart Snack Dietary Intervention Trial from Barcelona. We performed principal components analysis (PCA) to determine neuropsychological PC using working memory, fluid intelligence, emotional recognition, risky decision-making and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between psychological wellbeing, physical activity, and ever used alcohol and tobacco with neuropsychological PC. Regression models were adjusted by child sex, age, maternal education, and socioeconomic status. Results: Two neuropsychological PC, “ADHD symptoms” and “hot executive function,” were identified in PCA analyses (eigenvalues > 1.0). Psychological wellbeing showed an inverse association with the “ADHD symptoms” PC (β1 = −0.04, CI = −0.07, −0.02, p-value = < 0.001). Ever having consumed alcohol (β1= 0.26, CI = 0.07, 0.44, p-value = 0.006) and ever having smoked (β1 = 0.66, CI = 0.42, 0.90, p-value = < 0.001) were positively associated with “ADHD symptoms” PC. Moderate to vigorous physical activity during leisure time was positively associated with the “hot executive functions” PC (β1 = 0.09, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.17, p-value = 0.041). Conclusion: Our main results suggest that less psychological wellbeing, as well as ever having used alcohol or tobacco, was associated with “ADHD symptoms” PC. Physical activity might have a direct association with “hot executive functions” PC in a healthy adolescent sample.