Physical Activity Linked to Academic Achievement
It is well known that physical activity can help us live longer, happier lives. For example, physical activity decreases the chances of obtaining heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and having a stroke (United States Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2014). However, a new study in Finland has shown that physical activity is also associated with early achievement in school (Medical News Today [MNT], 2014). The study included children in Finland during their first three years of school. Children who played more at recess had higher reading skills, and those who played sports had higher arithmetic scores (MNT, 2014). Even though some girls had positive results, the boys were the ones who had higher reading and arithmetic skills with higher levels of physical activity (MNT, 2014). In fact, some girls had lower academic skills with higher levels of physical activity (MNT, 2014). Researchers point out that these gender differences show the importance in the type of physical activity and how it can potentially impact academic achievement (MNT, 2014).
References
Medical
News Today. (2014). High levels of
physical activity linked to early academic achievement. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282408.php
United
States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Why
is physical activity important? Retrieved from http://www.choosemyplate.gov/physical-activity/why.html
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteInteresting results! What was the difference in the type of physical activity that resulted in lower academic scores among the girls? Initially, I though A-HA, that's why I struggle with math (lack of sports in my childhood) but then I read the mixed results. I wonder if this would prove true in other countries.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteI understand physical activity is good for us; I think someone needs to come up with a way t odo physical activity for those people who have a disability. This is not an easy thing for disabled people to do. Reading your post made me wonder why did recess make people better at reading and I thought maybe it was because people are forced to use their imagination.
Hello Mimi,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you connected the physical activity to achievement performance. A systematic review, investigating the association between school-based physical activity (including physical education) and academic performance, showed that more than half (50.5%) of all 251 associations examined were positive, 48% were not significant, and 1.5% were negative. It is suggested that school physical activities may facilitate the academic performance.
Reference
Rasberry, C. N., Lee, S. M., Robin, L., Laris, B. A., Russell, L. A., Coyle, K. K., & Nihiser, A. J. (2011). The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance: A systematic review of the literature. Preventive Medicine, 52, Supplement(0), S10-S20. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.01.027