Physical activity and academic performance in high school students

There are still doubts about the real benets of physical activity on the academic performance of adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine whether the physical activity (PA) interferes in the academic performance of high school students.The study included 348 adolescents from one fed- eral public school. For information regarding PA, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short-version) was used. For PAL classication the adolecents who had 300 minutes/week or more of physical activity were considered as active. The information related to the participation in sports schools was obtained through a question inserted in IPAQ. For the academic performance, the average grades of the rst semester of 2015 were used, within the three major Knowledge Areas, as dened by the National Curriculum Standards. ere was no signicant correlation between academic performance and PA (r= 0.06; p= 0.28). Higher minimum scores were found among active high school students and higher average school for areas 1 – Languages, Codes and its Technologies (7.2±0.8) and 2 – Natural Sciences, Mathematics and its Technologies (6.6±1.3) among participants in sports schools, with statistical signicance (p= 0.017; p= 0.014). In conclusion, PAL did not relate to the academic performance of pupils in this study and participants of sports schools achieved better academic performance demonstrating that sports activities can cause benecial eects in their cognitive performances.

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High school students’ academic performance associated with psychological aspects, body practices and physical activity

Journal of Physical Education ◽

10.4025/jphyseduc.v31i1.3137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guilherme da Silva Gasparotto ◽

Aline Bichels ◽

Thaynara do Prado Szeremeta ◽

Gislaine Cristina Vagetti ◽

Valdomiro de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

Academic Performance ◽

High School Students ◽

Extracurricular Activities ◽

Self Concept ◽

School Students ◽

The Mean ◽

Body Practices ◽

Academic Self Efficacy

The objective of this study was to verify the association of psychological factors and body practices with the academic performance of high school students. A sample of 330 students participated, made up of 167 girls and 163 boys. Likert scale instruments were used for collecting information on self-concept, and on general and academic self-efficacy. Time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity was recorded, and so was participation in several types of body practices, such as sports, dances, martial arts, performing arts, and systematic physical exercises. Academic achievement was referred to from the students' grades on regular subjects. Linear regression analysis was used for verifying the association of independent variables with academic performance. The adjusted regression model explains between 7% and 36% of academic performance variance, whereas Self-Concept explains academic performance on six of the twelve subjects, and the mean of the grades, with Beta values between 0.13 (p = 0.02) for Sociology and 0.28 (p <0.01) for Mathematics. Academic self-efficacy explained performance on eleven subjects and the mean of the grades, with Beta values between 0.21 (p <0.01) for Physical Education and Philosophy, and 0.44 (p <0.01) for Biology. Participation in extracurricular activities involving body practices explained academic performance on six subjects and the mean of the grades, with Beta values between 0.14 (p = 0.02) for Sociology and 0.31 (p <0.01) for Arts. The studied psychological variables and participation in projects concerning body practices during extracurricular activities correlated with academic achievement as to several school subjects, and with the mean of the grades.

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Associations of Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement Among Illinois High School Students

The Physical Educator ◽

10.18666/tpe-2021-v78-i3-10311 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Megan Marie Weemer ◽

Olabode Ayodele

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

Academic Achievement ◽

Academic Performance ◽

High School Students ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Positive Association ◽

School Students ◽

The Relationship

The health benefits of physical activity are empirically supported and well accepted. However, the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and academic performance remains to be clearly established. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement among a sample of Illinois high school students. Analyses were based on the 2016–2017 school year Archival Fitnessgram physical fitness test scores and cumulative GPAs of ninth- through twelfth-grade students (N = 371). Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance. Multiple linear regression predicted students’ academic achievement. There was a positive association between total fitness and academic achievement, although not statistically significant, r (369) = .002, p = .49. The regression prediction model was statistically significant (p < .001) and accounted for approximately 25% of the variance in academic achievement (R2 = .256, adjusted R2 = .246). Academic achievement was predicted by total number of absences and gender, and to a lesser extent by socioeconomic status, the curl-up, and ethnicity. The findings of this study suggest a positive association between physical fitness and academic achievement. These results are potentially relevant to the development of future education policies. Thus, policy makers, school administrators, and educators must use the knowledge gained in this study, along with existing research, as evidence to emphasize the importance of the fitness–academic link, to further support the need for quality physical education curriculum and mandated physical fitness testing.

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Analysis of physical and leisure practices carried out by scholars during lockdown (Actividad física y entretenimiento realizado por escolares durante el confinamiento)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v43i0.89774 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 1056-1064

Author(s):

Pablo José Borges Hernández ◽

Judith Hernández Sánchez ◽

Gabriela Iglesias López ◽

Adelto Hernández Álvarez

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Point Of View ◽

School Students ◽

Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽

Sleeping Time ◽

Global Health Problem ◽

Activity Questionnaire

The decrease in physical activity among adolescents has become a global health problem. From the educational point of view, preventing sedentarism is of uttermost importance to avoid repercussions on economic and social levels. This study aims to analyze the characteristics and time dedicated to physical and leisure activities by adolescent during the lockdown caused by COVID-19 (2019, April 1 to May 1). The Minnesota Lesuire Time Physical Activity Questionnaire was used telematically on 4070 Canarian high school students (M=15.01; SD=3.53 years) during lockdown. 83.13% of the sample did not follow the WHO recommendations regarding physical activity, 63.64% did not keep ACSM recommendations to passive leisure, and 37% did not respect those regarding sleeping time. Likewise, as age increased there was a decrease in the amount of time dedicated to physical activity and thus failure to follow the recommendations of the relevant institutions. Also the time allotted to passive leisure was M=3.55 (SD=2.75) hours per day. It is concluded that the time dedicated to physical activity is insufficient according to the official bodies like as the use of screens acquires great predominance in the employment of adolescents’ free time, causing the need to consider future interventions to mitigate the sedentarism level and its consequences. Resumen. La disminución de los hábitos de práctica física entre adolescentes se ha convertido en un problema de salud mundial. Desde el punto de vista educativo, la prevención del sedentarismo es de vital importancia por sus repercusiones tanto a nivel económico, social, como para la salud en general. Este estudio describe y analiza las características y el tiempo dedicado por escolares a actividad física y entretenimiento, durante el período de confinamiento por Covid-19 (1 de abril a 1 de mayo de 2019). Mediante el Minnesota Lesuire Time Physical Activity Questionnaire administrado de manera telemática a 4070 escolares (M=15,01; DT=3,53 años), se encontró que el 83,13% de la muestra no cumplieron las recomendaciones respecto a actividades físicas, el 63,64% las del tiempo de pantallas, y el 37% las horas de sueño. Asimismo, a medida que aumentaba la edad disminuían las horas de práctica física y por ende el incumplimiento de las recomendaciones de los organismos pertinentes. El tiempo destinado a ocio pasivo durante el confinamiento fue de 3,55 (DT=2,75) horas al día. Se concluye que el tiempo de actividad física es insuficiente según los parámetros establecidos, predominando el uso de pantallas en la ocupación del tiempo libre de los adolescentes, por tanto urge plantear intervenciones para mitigar los elevados niveles de sedentarismo.

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Convergent Validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.9.4.342 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 342-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 212

Author(s):

Kent C. Kowalski ◽

Peter R.E. Crocker ◽

Nanette P. Kowalski

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

School Students ◽

Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽

General Physical ◽

Activity Questionnaire

This study assessed the convergent validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). The PAQ-A is a modified version for high school students of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQC). The PAQ-A is a 7-day recall used to assess general physical activity levels during the school year. Eighty-five high school students in Grades 8 through 12 filled out the PAQ-A and other physical activity measures. The PAQ-A was moderately related to an activity rating (r = .73), the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (r = .57), a Caltrac motion sensor (r = .33), and the 7-day physical activity recall interview (r = .59). The results of this study support the convergent validity of the PAQ-A as a measure of general physical activity level for high school students.

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Physical activity and sitting time prior to and during COVID-19 lockdown in Austrian high-school students

AIMS Public Health ◽

10.3934/publichealth.2021043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 531-540

Author(s):

Klaus Greier ◽

◽

Clemens Drenowatz ◽

Theresa Bischofer ◽

Gloria Petrasch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Sitting Time ◽

School Students ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Active Lifestyle ◽

The Impact ◽

Walking Time ◽

Activity Questionnaire

<abstract> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has led in many countries to the implementation of policies that mandate social distancing and movement restrictions. While these measures are warranted in order to minimize the spread of the virus they may have detrimental effects on various behaviors, including physical activity (PA). The present study examined PA and sitting time in 14 to18-year-old Austrian high school students prior to and during the second COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. Data was collected via an online questionnaire during fall/winter 2020/21. Questions were based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which examined frequency and duration of PA and sitting time. A total of 221 high school students provided valid data. Participants reported significantly lower moderate and vigorous PA during the lockdown while sitting time increased (p < 0.01). The frequency of walking (days/week) also decreased during COVID-19 lockdown, which also contributed to a significant decline in total walking time (p < 0.01). Further, the decline in PA was more pronounced in boys, while girls reported a greater decline in walking. These differences were due to higher PA and walking in boys and girls, respectively, prior to the lockdown. During the lockdown sex differences in PA and sitting time were limited. Taken together, these results highlight the impact of COVID-19 policies on PA in adolescents and emphasize the importance to promote an active lifestyle even in times of home confinement.</p> </abstract>

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