Influence of Physical Fitness on Academic Achievement in Chinese Adolescents: Evidences from a Longitudinal Study

Objective: to investigate the influence of physical fitness on adolescents’ academic achievement and explore its mechanism. Methods: 966 Grade 7 students were recruited in the current 2 years longitudinal study.... [ view full abstract ]

Objective: to investigate the influence of physical fitness on adolescents’ academic achievement and explore its mechanism. Methods: 966 Grade 7 students were recruited in the current 2 years longitudinal study. Students’ aerobic endurance, weight status, muscular strength, flexibility and speed in first and second year were measured with the method of National Student Fitness Survey respectively. The standardized scores of final examinations in Chinese, Mathematics, English, Science and Society in second year were used as indicators of academic achievement. Adolescent executive function scale which was developed by Institute of Psychology in Chinese Academy of Sciences was applied to measure students’ executive function. Results: The students with low aerobic endurance had significant poorer academic performance in the five courses and the moderate effects (Partial η²: 0.074-0.081) was found. Poorer performances in other fitness factors (muscular strength, flexibility, speed and weight status) were also found to be associated with lower scores in the courses examinations, but only slight effects were found. The results of structural equation model using the cross-sectional data of students in grade 9 indicated that physical fitness not only influence academic achievement directly, but also has indirect relation through executive function (NFI=0.94;CFI=0.96; RMSEA=0.079). Conclusion: Improving physical fitness may have positive influence on students’ academic achievement, in which moderate effects was found in aerobic endurance and slight effects was found in muscular strength, flexibility, speed and weight status. Executive function serves as an important mediator in the relation between physical fitness and academic achievement.