Association Between Physical Fitness And Academic Achievement In High School Students.

Abstract

Academic achievement (AA) is an important issue not only during the school period, since it is a strong predictor of long-term professional and social success. Physical Fitness (PF) components are associated with AA, studies on this topic were conducted with relatively small samples, lack of statistical power and the conclusions are based on simple correlational analyzes. PURPOSE: To analyze association between PF (single and clustered) with AA in a large and representative sample of high school students. METHODS: Cross-sectional design study conducted with 911 students, aged 13-15 (38.52% boys) enrolled in the first year of high school. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CrF) (20-meter shuttle run test), muscular strength (dynamometer) and body composition (skinfolds) were measured. PF components were clustered (Z-CrF + Z- muscular strength - Z-body fatness). AA was analyzed through standard math tests. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was applied to verify the independent contribution of each single component and PF’s cluster on AA Age, screen time, BMI, maternal education, race and type of residence were used as covariates in the analyses. RESULTS: Among boys, strength alone was associated with AA (β = 0.194; p = 0.006). There was no association between clustered PF indicators and AA (β = 0.078; p = 0.248). There was a negative association between age and AA in girls (β = -0153;p = 0.003), but not in boys. CONCLUSIONS: These results support current literature, indicating an association between PF’s component, namely muscular strength and AA (mathematics) in adolescents, even when controlled for several covariates.