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Physical Fitness Predicts Subsequent Improvement in Academic Achievement: Differential Patterns Depending on Pupils’ Age

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  • Élvio Rúbio Gouveia

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000 Funchal, Portugal
    LARSYS, Interactive Technologies Institute, 9000 Funchal, Portugal
    Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Bruna Raquel Gouveia

    (LARSYS, Interactive Technologies Institute, 9000 Funchal, Portugal
    Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
    Saint Joseph of Cluny Higher School of Nursing, 9000 Funchal, Portugal
    Health Administration Institute, Secretary of Health of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 9000 Funchal, Portugal)

  • Adilson Marques

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal
    ISAMB, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Helder Lopes

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000 Funchal, Portugal)

  • Ana Rodrigues

    (Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Madeira, 9000 Funchal, Portugal)

  • Miguel Peralta

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal
    ISAMB, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Matthias Kliegel

    (Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
    Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES—Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Andreas Ihle

    (Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
    Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES—Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland)

Abstract

We investigated the longitudinal relationship between physical fitness (flexibility, functional strength, and running speed-agility components) and subsequent change in academic achievement across one school year. We also examined whether this longitudinal relationship differed as a function of pupils’ age, controlling for sex, body mass index, and socioeconomic status. Academic achievement in terms of marks in Portuguese and mathematics was recorded from 142 pupils ( M = 14.59 years; SD = 1.99, range 11–18), between autumn 2017 and summer 2018. The physical fitness components, including flexibility, functional strength, and running speed-agility, were assessed at the baseline (i.e., at the beginning of the school year). Latent change score modelling revealed that higher physical fitness level at baseline significantly predicted a subsequent improvement in academic achievement across the school year. This longitudinal relationship was significantly stronger in younger compared to older pupils. Physical fitness and its interaction with age predicted 45.7% of the variance in the change in academic achievement. In conclusion, a better physical fitness profile including flexibility, functional strength, and running speed-agility explains a subsequent improvement in academic achievement. This longitudinal relationship seems to be age-dependent.

Suggested Citation

  • Élvio Rúbio Gouveia & Bruna Raquel Gouveia & Adilson Marques & Helder Lopes & Ana Rodrigues & Miguel Peralta & Matthias Kliegel & Andreas Ihle, 2020. "Physical Fitness Predicts Subsequent Improvement in Academic Achievement: Differential Patterns Depending on Pupils’ Age," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-9, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8874-:d:434787
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Candace Currie & Saoirse Nic Gabhainn & Emmanuelle Godeau, 2009. "The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National (HBSC) Study: origins, concept, history and development 1982–2008," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 54(2), pages 131-139, September.
    2. Andreas Ihle & Élvio R. Gouveia & Bruna R. Gouveia & Duarte L. Freitas & Jefferson Jurema & Rui T. Ornelas & António M. Antunes & Bárbara R. Muniz & Matthias Kliegel, 2018. "The relation of education and cognitive activity to mini-mental state in old age: the role of functional fitness status," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 123-131, June.
    3. Rosseel, Yves, 2012. "lavaan: An R Package for Structural Equation Modeling," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 48(i02).
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