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. 2024 Aug 8:6:1366451.
doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1366451. eCollection 2024.

Cross-sectional association between frequency of vigorous physical activity and academic achievement in 214,808 adolescents

Xiaohui Zhang  1 , Danqing Zhang  2 , Xingyi Yang  2 , Sitong Chen  2
Affiliations

Cross-sectional association between frequency of vigorous physical activity and academic achievement in 214,808 adolescents

Xiaohui Zhang et al. Front Sports Act Living. .

Abstract

Background: This study explores the intricate link between vigorous physical activity and academic achievement in adolescents. By analyzing data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, it seeks to understand how engaging in high-intensity physical activities influences academic achievement.

Methods: A comprehensive cross-sectional analysis was conducted on a vast dataset comprising 214,808 adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years. The frequency of vigorous physical activity was determined through self-reports, while academic achievement was assessed based on students' self-perceptions, reflecting their understanding of teachers' evaluations of their academic performance.

Results: Adolescents who reported engaging in vigorous physical activity daily were more likely to report higher academic achievement. This positive correlation was consistent across various demographic groups, including different age cohorts and both genders, indicating a universal benefit of regular vigorous physical activity on perceived academic success.

Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the significant role that regular vigorous physical activity plays in the academic lives of adolescents. The correlation between daily vigorous physical activity and enhanced self-reported academic achievement suggests that encouraging high-intensity physical activities in schools could be a key strategy in boosting educational outcomes.

Keywords: academic performance; exercise; high intensity; physical activity; schoolchildren.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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