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Children's aerobic fitness and academic achievement: A longitudinal examination of students during their fifth and seventh grade years

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  • Wittberg, R.A.
  • Northrup, K.L.
  • Cottrell, L.A.

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed children's potential differences in academic achievement based on aerobic fitness over a 2-year period. Methods: The longitudinal study sample included 3 cohorts of students (n = 1725;50.1% male) enrolled in a West Virginia public school system. Students received baseline fitness and academic assessments as fifth graders and at a 2-year follow-up assessment. We used FitnessGram to assess fitness in aerobic capacity and WESTEST, a criterion-based assessment, for academic performance. Results: Students who stayed in the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) had significantly higher WESTEST scores than did students who stayed in the needs improvement zone (NIZ). Students who moved into or out of the HFZ occasionally had significantly higher WESTEST scores than did students who stayed in the NIZ, but they were rarely significantly lower than those of students who stayed in the HFZ. Conclusions: Students' aerobic capacity is associated with greater academic achievement as defined by standardized test scores. This advantage appears to be maintained over time, especially if the student stays in the HFZ.

Suggested Citation

  • Wittberg, R.A. & Northrup, K.L. & Cottrell, L.A., 2012. "Children's aerobic fitness and academic achievement: A longitudinal examination of students during their fifth and seventh grade years," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(12), pages 2303-2307.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2011.300515_5
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300515
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    Cited by:

    1. Jong-Sik Ryu & Hae Ryong Chung & Benjamin M. Meador & Yongsuk Seo & Kyung-O Kim, 2021. "The Associations between Physical Fitness, Complex vs Simple Movement, and Academic Achievement in a Cohort of Fourth Graders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Mia Papasideris & Scott T Leatherdale & Kate Battista & Peter A Hall, 2021. "An examination of the prospective association between physical activity and academic achievement in youth at the population level," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Andrew T. Harveson & James C. Hannon & Timothy A. Brusseau & Leslie Podlog & Charilaos Papadopoulos & Morgan S. Hall & EvaRose Celeste, 2019. "Acute Exercise and Academic Achievement in Middle School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-7, September.
    4. Sehrish Naveed & Timo Lakka & Eero A. Haapala, 2020. "An Overview on the Associations between Health Behaviors and Brain Health in Children and Adolescents with Special Reference to Diet Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Souhail Hermassi & Thomas Bartels & Lawrence D. Hayes & René Schwesig, 2022. "Fitness, Fatness, and Academic Attainment in Male Schoolchildren from a Soccer Academy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.

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