The Relationship Between Physical Activity and

Academic Achievement in School-Aged Children

Kristen Hurley

Rationale Obesity is increasing in our country

› 33% of children overweight or obese (2010)

Concerns of lagging behind the rest of the world academically

Health and Physical Education cuts

Missing nationally recommended standards for time spent per week in PE› NASPE suggests 150 min/week for elementary, and

225 min/week for secondary

Health Benefits of Physical Activity

Weight loss/maintenance

Healthier bones, muscles, and joints

Lowers risk factors for heart disease, hypertension, Type II Diabetes, and osteoporosis

Improvements in feelings and mood

Specificity of Physical Activity

Type of Physical Activity Frequency/Duration Intensity

Aerobic Fitness and Academics

Aerobic walking intervention study altered brain regions involved in behavior control and lowered reaction time on complex decision tasks

Study of the analysis of the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and academic achievement revealed a strong link› Math: R=.49, Reading: R= .45, Total: R=.48

No studies found links to muscular strength or flexibility

Aerobic Fitness, Con’t Aerobically fit children scored more

accurately on an Eriksen Flanker Task

Frequency/ Duration of Physical Activity and Academics

Intervention study› 5 days/week of PE instead of 2 raised

scores

Aerobic exercise intervention› Only 40-minute group recognized

differences

Intensity of Physical Activity and Academics

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggests 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily

Higher intensity PA shown to improve:› Working memory› Reaction time in recognition tasks› Mental calculations

Measures of Academic Achievement Influenced by Physical Activity

Brain Function Executive Control Intelligence Academic Achievement Behavior Memory

Brain Function Exercise increases blood flow to the brain Neurotrophins Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

› Located in hippocampus which is involved in learning and memory

› Low levels linked to learning disabilities and prevention of long-term potentiation

› Obese, hyperglycemic, and diabetic individuals have low levels of BDNF

Insulin› Influenced by diet and exercise› Highly concentrated in areas of learning and memory› Linked to Alzheimer’s

Executive Control Mental processing involved in planning and

decision-making in goal-directed actions 4 categories:

› Scheduling› Response Inhibition› Planning› Working Memory

Studies show that physical activity:› Decreases confliction and inhibitory control on tasks› Improved working memory› Improved accuracy on a flanker task

Intelligence Limited studies on the relation between

physical activity and intelligence

A six-week intervention study that utilized calisthenics and sprints improved scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEM

ENT

Click icon to add picture

CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2009

* This means that 12% of students with mostly A’s carried a weapon and 37% of students with mostly D’s or F’s carried a weapon

Academic Achievement, Con’tPAAC

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEM

ENT, CON’T

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Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement in Third and Fifth Grade Students

Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Variables Predicting General Academic Achievement

Classroom Behavior Evidence that

physical activity breaks in the classroom improve student behavior› Increased time-on-

task› Decreased

fidgeting› Improved

concentration

Classroom Behavior Con’t Recess helps children be less fidgety and

listless while being more focused and on-task

Students spent 20% less time off-task after a Take 10 Activity break than before

Physical activity can reduce health-related absenteeism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgI37hM2cC8

Summary Aerobic fitness activities are the most

beneficial for improvements in academic achievement

Higher intensity, increased frequency, and longer duration of PA increases impact

Various academic factors improved, including:› Executive Control› Academic Achievement› Classroom Behavior

Summary, Con’t Majority of studies found some sort of

positive relation or impact on academics Very few found any negative impact A Meta-analysis of 50 studies related to

physical activity and academic achievement produced 251 associations between these 2 variables› 50.5% positive association› 48% not significant› 1.5% negative

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