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Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: An Umbrella Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Barbosa

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal)

  • Stephen Whiting

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
    European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Philippa Simmonds

    (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Rodrigo Scotini Moreno

    (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Romeu Mendes

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
    European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • João Breda

    (European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

Background: This umbrella review aimed to summarise the evidence presented in systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding the effect of physical activity on academic achievement of school-age children and adolescents. Methods: A comprehensive electronic search for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses were performed in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Latin American and Caribbean of Health Sciences Information System, and reference lists of the included studies, from inception to May 2020. Studies were included if they were systematic reviews or meta-analyses, included school-age children or adolescents, the intervention included physical activity, and the outcome was the academic achievement. Two independent authors screened the text of potentially eligible studies and assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Results: Forty-one systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examined the effects of physical activity on children and adolescents’ academic achievement were identified. Overall, the systematic reviews reported small positive or mixed associations between physical activity and academic achievement. From meta-analyses, it was observed that physical activity had null or small-to-medium positive effects on academic achievement. Chronic physical activity showed a medium positive effect on academic achievement, and acute physical activity did not demonstrate benefits. Conclusions: Physical activity seems not to be detrimental to school-age children and adolescents’ academic achievement, and may, in fact, be beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Barbosa & Stephen Whiting & Philippa Simmonds & Rodrigo Scotini Moreno & Romeu Mendes & João Breda, 2020. "Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: An Umbrella Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-29, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5972-:d:400188
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chloe Bedard & Laura St John & Emily Bremer & Jeffrey D Graham & John Cairney, 2019. "A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of physically active classrooms on educational and enjoyment outcomes in school age children," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Abel Ruiz-Hermosa & Celia Álvarez-Bueno & Iván Cavero-Redondo & Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno & Andrés Redondo-Tébar & Mairena Sánchez-López, 2019. "Active Commuting to and from School, Cognitive Performance, and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Madhura Phansikar & Sadia Anjum Ashrafi & Naiman A. Khan & William V. Massey & Sean P. Mullen, 2019. "Active Commute in Relation to Cognition and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Future Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-27, December.
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