Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 17, Issue 17, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176216
Keywords
physical fitness; selective attention; pre-adolescents; cognitive functioning
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The purpose of the current study is to analyze the relationships between physical fitness, selective attention, and academic performance in pre-teens. The sample here consists of 135 participants between the ages of 10 and 12 (M = 11.05; SD=0.61), with 39.26% female (n= 53) and 60.74% male (n= 82) participants. Horizontal and vertical jump distances, speed, and cardio-respiratory fitness were evaluated to assess physical fitness. The d2 Test of Attention was used to evaluate selective attention. In addition, data were obtained regarding participant academic performance by analyzing the academic performance. The results show significant relationships between the measures analyzed, highlighting positive associations between physical fitness, cognitive functioning, and academic performance. Thus, participants who were fitter scored better on tests of attention (Z(133)= -4.07;p< 0.00007, Cohen'sd= 0.75, 95% CI (0.39, 1.11)) and concentration (t(133)= -3.84;p< 0.0007, Cohen'sd= 0.69, 95% CI (0.33, 1.05)), as well as having higher academic performance (Z(133)= -2.84;p< 0.0035, Cohen'sd= 0.39, 95% CI (0.04, 0.75)). Cardiorespiratory fitness was the measure of physical fitness that best explained these relationships. The results suggest that maintaining and improving the physical fitness of children and adolescents may help their brain function develop better.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available