Is physical activity associated with a higher degree of wisdom? Cross-sectional study with high school students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the association between the degree of wisdom and the level of leisure-time physical activity (PA) of students from a federal public school in southern Brazil. Observational cross-sectional study with 462 young people of both sexes between 15 and 18 years old. Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire on the REDCap platform. The independent variable was the “level of leisure PA” (inactive, insufficiently active, and physically active) and the outcome was the “degree of wisdom” evaluated through a validated questionnaire (SD-WISE7). There was a linear trend towards an increase in the wisdom score according to the level of PA. This trend and significant association continued in the adjusted analysis, with active students averaging 1.84 points more in the wisdom score compared to inactive students. In conclusion, the wisest young people are also the most physically active young people. In view of the potential beneficial effects, current studies may consider wisdom as a possible mediator of PA with health outcomes.