Habitual Physical Activity And Academic Achievements Among Undergraduate Adult Students

Abstract

Physical activity is associated with many physical and mental health benefits. The activity improves mood, reduces stress and anxiety and as shown previously increases academic performance with higher grades among youth and young undergraduate students. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between physical activity habits and academic achievement among undergraduate adult male and female students. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty two male students (34.5+10.2 yrs) and seventy two female students (36.5+7.6 yrs) from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ariel University volunteered to participate in this study. The cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative method and data was collected by a closed questionnaire, which included questions about physical activity in view of intensity, type of activity, time duration and frequency per week and was analyzed vis-à-vis academic achievements. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation (p<0.03) was found between physical activity habits and higher grades only among the male students. For the younger male students and the adult male students - the higher the physical activity time duration and frequency the higher the grades were. No correlation between adult female students’ physical activity and academic grades were found (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Older male students' academic grades were correlated to their physical activity habits. The awareness of the importance of physical activity habits among undergraduate male students is not limited to the younger age students but is also true for all age groups.