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Physical education and academic achievement in elementary school: Data from the early childhood longitudinal study

Author

Listed:
  • Carlson, S.A.
  • Fulton, J.E.
  • Lee, S.M.
  • Maynard, L.M.
  • Brown, D.R.
  • Kohl III, H.W.
  • Dietz, W.H.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the association between time spent in physical education and academic achievement in a longitudinal study of students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Methods. We used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998 to 1999, which employed a multistage probability design to select a nationally representative sample of students in kindergarten (analytic sample=5316). Time spent in physical education (minutes per week) was collected from classroom teachers, and academic achievement (mathematics and reading) was scored on an item response theory scale. Results. A small but significant benefit for academic achievement in mathematics and reading was observed for girls enrolled in higher amounts (70-300 minutes per week) of physical education (referent: 0-35 minutes per week). Higher amounts of physical education were not positively or negatively associated with academic achievement among boys. Conclusions. Among girls, higher amounts of physical education may be associated with an academic benefit. Physical education did not appear to negatively affect academic achievement in elementary school students. Concerns about adverse effects on achievement may not be legitimate reasons to limit physical education programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlson, S.A. & Fulton, J.E. & Lee, S.M. & Maynard, L.M. & Brown, D.R. & Kohl III, H.W. & Dietz, W.H., 2008. "Physical education and academic achievement in elementary school: Data from the early childhood longitudinal study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(4), pages 721-727.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.117176_3
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.117176
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    Cited by:

    1. Youjin Lee & Trang Q. Nguyen & Elizabeth A. Stuart, 2021. "Partially pooled propensity score models for average treatment effect estimation with multilevel data," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 184(4), pages 1578-1598, October.
    2. Dills, Angela K. & Morgan, Hillary N. & Rotthoff, Kurt W., 2011. "Recess, physical education, and elementary school student outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 889-900, October.
    3. Ningyi Li, 2023. "Effects of Daily Exercise Time on the Academic Performance of Students: An Empirical Analysis Based on CEPS Data," Papers 2312.11484, arXiv.org, revised May 2024.
    4. Adrià Muntaner-Mas & Josep Vidal-Conti & Jo Salmon & Pere Palou-Sampol, 2020. "Associations of Heart Rate Measures during Physical Education with Academic Performance and Executive Function in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Steven Bednar & Kathryn Rouse, 2020. "The effect of physical education on children's body weight and human capital: New evidence from the ECLS‐K:2011," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 393-405, April.
    6. Adriana Barone & Cristian Barra, 2022. "Gender differences in weight status and early school leaving in Italy," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(3), pages 644-666, June.
    7. BARONE, Adriana & NESE, Annamaria, 2017. "Investment in Education, Obesity and Health Behaviours," CELPE Discussion Papers 146, CELPE - CEnter for Labor and Political Economics, University of Salerno, Italy.
    8. Garst, Barry A. & Bowers, Edmond P. & Stephens, Lauren E., 2020. "A randomized study of CrossFit Kids for fostering fitness and academic outcomes in middle school students," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Jessie-Lee D. McIsaac & Sara F. L. Kirk & Stefan Kuhle, 2015. "The Association between Health Behaviours and Academic Performance in Canadian Elementary School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Packham, Analisa & Street, Brittany, 2019. "The effects of physical education on student fitness, achievement, and behavior," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1-18.
    11. Park, So Young & Pan, Bing & Ahn, Jee Bin, 2020. "Family trip and academic achievement in early childhood," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    12. Ahmad H. Alghadir & Sami A. Gabr & Zaheen A. Iqbal, 2020. "Effect of Gender, Physical Activity and Stress-Related Hormones on Adolescent’s Academic Achievements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    13. Francisco José Borrego-Balsalobre & Alfonso Martínez-Moreno & Vicente Morales-Baños & Arturo Díaz-Suárez, 2021. "Influence of the Psychomotor Profile in the Improvement of Learning in Early Childhood Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-12, November.
    14. Tianjiao Wang & Congbin Guo, 2022. "Inverted U-Shaped Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement among Chinese Adolescents: On the Mediating Role of Physical and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.

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