The social–ecological context of media use and school success

Abstract

Academic achievement is a crucial determinant of life course health. Academic achievement in adolescence not only predicts job and financial success in adulthood, but recent evidence suggests that it may be associated with lower adult allostatic load 1 and better health status. 2 These associations may be due to the improved employment and financial opportunities that high academic achievement allows, but there are likely other explanatory variables ---such as family functioning, child intellectual or selfregulation abilities, stress associated with chronic poverty, or premorbid mental health conditions, which influence both academic achievement and later outcomes. Regardless, identification of potentially modifiable contributors to school achievement is worthwhile, as improving a child's academic trajectory has important life course relevance.A growing literature has examined physical activity as a predictor of school success, with good reason: laboratory-based studies suggest that bouts of high-intensity physical activity can improve immediate cognitive functioning, such as impulse inhibition and working memory. 3 Although the evidence is less robust for long-term exercise habits improving executive functions, 3 the benefits may be population-specific: recent evidence suggests that DOI of original article: http://dx.