Relationships between athletic ability and academic performance in primary school students: A 3-year follow-up study

• Main Authors: Hao Zong Ji (Author), Cui Jin Bai (Author), Yang Yun (Author), Wu Xiang Dong (Author), Qian Ze Yi (Author), Wu Dan Ping (Author), Tang Yi (Author), Zheng Hong Xia (Author), Zhang Zhi Min (Author), Xu Jing Long (Author), Zhang Teng Fei (Author), Wang Jun Ji (Author), Li Zhen (Author), Gao Zhuang (Author), Li Ying Ke (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine whether academic performance is associated with students' athletic ability in primary school.MethodsA 3-year follow-up study was conducted among 1,136 Chinese students. Sit-up and jump rope testers were used to measure 1-min sit-ups and 1-min jump ropes, respectively. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to estimate sleep quality and depression levels. The end-of-semester examinations were used to evaluate students' academic performance during the follow-up period.ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, the mean change in Chinese language performance for participants stratified by 1-min sit-ups at baseline was 0.35 (95% CI: −0.37 to 0.76) for level 1 (slowest), 0.52 (95% CI: −0.54 to 1.08) for level 2, and 1.72 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.30) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend = 0.003); the mean change in math scores was 0.28 (95% CI: −0.50 to 0.95) for level 1 (slowest), 0.95 (95% CI: 0.38 to 1.52) for level 2, and 1.41 (95% CI: 0.82 to 1.99) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend = 0.048). The mean change in foreign language scores was −0.45 (95% CI: −0.99 to −0.93) for level 1 (slowest), −0.14 (95% CI: −0.44 to 0.41) for level 2, and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.25 to 1.13) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend = 0.004). The mean change in Chinese language performance for participants stratified by 1-min jump ropes at the baseline was 0.30 (95% CI: −0.16 to 0.76) for level 1 (slowest), 1.09 (95% CI: 0.42 to 1.76) for level 2, and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.35) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend = 0.001). The mean change in math scores was 0.41 (95% CI: −0.11 to 0.92) for level 1 (slowest), 1.44 (95% CI: 0.69 to 2.19) for level 2, and 1.43 (95% CI: 0.76 to 2.10) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend = 0.019). The mean change in foreign language performance was −0.71 (95% CI: −1.08 to −0.33) for level 1 (slowest), 0.95 (95% CI: −0.40 to 1.50) for level 2, and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.41 to 1.41) for level 3 (fastest) (P for trend < 0.001).ConclusionThis study suggests that participation in jump rope and sit-up exercises may positively affect students' academic performance.

Item Description

2296-2565
10.3389/fpubh.2022.1012757