Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Academic Skills – A Follow-Up Study among Primary School Children

Abstract

BackgroundThere are no prospective studies that would have compared the relationships of different types of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with academic skills among children. We therefore investigated the associations of different types of PA and SB with reading and arithmetic skills in a follow-up study among children.MethodsThe participants were 186 children (107 boys, 79 girls, 6–8 yr) who were followed-up in Grades 1–3. PA and SB were assessed using a questionnaire in Grade 1. Reading fluency, reading comprehension and arithmetic skills were assessed using standardized tests at the end of Grades 1–3.ResultsAmong all children more recess PA and more time spent in SB related to academic skills were associated with a better reading fluency across Grades 1–3. In boys, higher levels of total PA, physically active school transportation and more time spent in SB related to academic skills were associated with a better reading fluency across the Grades 1–3. Among girls, higher levels of total PA were related to worse arithmetic skills across Grades 1–3. Moreover, total PA was directly associated with reading fluency and arithmetic skills in Grades 1–3 among girls whose parents had a university degree, whereas these relationships were inverse in girls of less educated parents.ConclusionsTotal PA, physically active school transportation and SB related to academic skills may be beneficial for the development of reading skills in boys, whereas factors that are independent of PA or SB may be more important for academic skills in girls.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01803776

Physical activity and sedentary time in relation to academic achievement in children

“…We found a direct association between MVPA and academic achievement in boys, while the relationship was statistically non-significant or inverse in girls. Our observation on the direct associations of MVPA with reading skills in boys is in line with the results of studies showing direct relationships of PA and cardiorespiratory fitness to academic achievement and working memory in boys but not in girls at 6–10 years of age [11], [12]. Nevertheless, some studies in adolescents suggest a direct association between PA and academic achievement in girls but not in boys [13], [14].…”

“…Some studies have found no relationship between objectively measured MVPA and academic achievement in children 10 years of age [5], [10]. In recent studies, higher levels of PA have been associated with better academic achievement only among boys [11], [12]. In contrast, some studies have observed an association between higher levels of PA and better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys [13], [14].…”

Atividade física e tempo de tela em jovens de uma cidade de médio porte do Sul do Brasil

“…Several studies analyzed these co-existent variables in this population. Physical activity and more time spent with sedentary behaviour are related to academic skills 26. Additionally, low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviours increase the chances of obesity in childhood 1…”

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and adiposity with arterial stiffness in children

“…PA and sedentary behavior during a usual week was assessed by the PANIC Physical Activity Questionnaire administered by the parents together with their child (Haapala et al., ; Väistö et al., ). The types of PA included structured exercise, unstructured PA, commuting to and from school, and PA during recess.…”