IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i16p5972-d400188.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: An Umbrella Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Barbosa

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal)

  • Stephen Whiting

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
    European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Philippa Simmonds

    (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Rodrigo Scotini Moreno

    (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Romeu Mendes

    (EPIUnit—Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
    European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • João Breda

    (European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 125009 Moscow, Russia
    Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

Abstract

Background: This umbrella review aimed to summarise the evidence presented in systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding the effect of physical activity on academic achievement of school-age children and adolescents. Methods: A comprehensive electronic search for relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses were performed in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Latin American and Caribbean of Health Sciences Information System, and reference lists of the included studies, from inception to May 2020. Studies were included if they were systematic reviews or meta-analyses, included school-age children or adolescents, the intervention included physical activity, and the outcome was the academic achievement. Two independent authors screened the text of potentially eligible studies and assessed the methodological quality of the studies using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Results: Forty-one systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examined the effects of physical activity on children and adolescents’ academic achievement were identified. Overall, the systematic reviews reported small positive or mixed associations between physical activity and academic achievement. From meta-analyses, it was observed that physical activity had null or small-to-medium positive effects on academic achievement. Chronic physical activity showed a medium positive effect on academic achievement, and acute physical activity did not demonstrate benefits. Conclusions: Physical activity seems not to be detrimental to school-age children and adolescents’ academic achievement, and may, in fact, be beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Barbosa & Stephen Whiting & Philippa Simmonds & Rodrigo Scotini Moreno & Romeu Mendes & João Breda, 2020. "Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: An Umbrella Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-29, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5972-:d:400188
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5972/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5972/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chloe Bedard & Laura St John & Emily Bremer & Jeffrey D Graham & John Cairney, 2019. "A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of physically active classrooms on educational and enjoyment outcomes in school age children," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Abel Ruiz-Hermosa & Celia Álvarez-Bueno & Iván Cavero-Redondo & Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno & Andrés Redondo-Tébar & Mairena Sánchez-López, 2019. "Active Commuting to and from School, Cognitive Performance, and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Madhura Phansikar & Sadia Anjum Ashrafi & Naiman A. Khan & William V. Massey & Sean P. Mullen, 2019. "Active Commute in Relation to Cognition and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Future Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-27, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Elena Escolano-Pérez & Marta Bestué, 2021. "Academic Achievement in Spanish Secondary School Students: The Inter-Related Role of Executive Functions, Physical Activity and Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-25, February.
    2. 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.
    3. Bartseva, Ksenia & Likhanov, Maxim & Tsigeman, Elina & Alenina, Evgenia & Reznichenko, Ivan & Soldatova, Elena & Kovas, Yulia, 2024. "No spatial advantage in adolescent hockey players? Exploring measure specificity and masked effects," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    4. Oliver W. A. Wilson & Chris Whatman & Simon Walters & Sierra Keung & Dion Enari & Andy Rogers & Sarah-Kate Millar & Lesley Ferkins & Erica Hinckson & Jeremy Hapeta & Michael Sam & Justin Richards, 2022. "The Value of Sport: Wellbeing Benefits of Sport Participation during Adolescence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-9, July.
    5. Andrew Sortwell & Kevin Trimble & Ricardo Ferraz & David R. Geelan & Gregory Hine & Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo & Bastian Carter-Thuiller & Evgenia Gkintoni & Qianying Xuan, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses on the Impact of Formative Assessment on K-12 Students’ Learning: Toward Sustainable Quality Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, September.
    6. Yingchen Bi & Minkwon Moon & Myoungjin Shin, 2022. "The Longitudinal Effects of Depression on Academic Performance in Chinese Adolescents via Peer Relationships: The Moderating Effect of Gender and Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Denver M. Y. Brown & Carah Porter & Faith Hamilton & Fernanda Almanza & Christina Narvid & Megan Pish & Diego Arizabalo, 2022. "Interactive Associations between Physical Activity and Sleep Duration in Relation to Adolescent Academic Achievement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    8. Gracia, Pablo, 2023. "Child and Adolescent Time Use and Well-Being: A Study of Current Debates and Empirical Evidence," OSF Preprints 9qmrk, Center for Open Science.
    9. 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.
    10. Ying Yang & Jinruo Qin & Jing Lei & Yanping Liu, 2023. "Research Status and Challenges on the Sustainable Development of Artificial Intelligence Courses from a Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Mohamed A. Zayed & Mohamed A. Moustafa & Musaddag Elrayah & Ibrahim A. Elshaer, 2024. "Optimizing Quality of Life of Vulnerable Students: The Impact of Physical Fitness, Self-Esteem, and Academic Performance: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-21, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ho Yeung Lam & Sisitha Jayasinghe & Kiran D. K. Ahuja & Andrew P. Hills, 2023. "Active School Commuting in School Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Research Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Ana Rodrigues & Hélio Antunes & Ricardo Alves & Ana Luísa Correia & Helder Lopes & Bebiana Sabino & Adilson Marques & Andreas Ihle & Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, 2022. "Association between the Duration of the Active Commuting to and from School, and Cognitive Performance in Urban Portuguese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Saeed Esmaeli & Kayvan Aghabayk & Nirajan Shiwakoti, 2024. "Measuring the Effect of Built Environment on Students’ School Trip Method Using Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Barbara Fenesi & Jeffrey D. Graham & Madeline Crichton & Michelle Ogrodnik & Jasmyn Skinner, 2022. "Physical Activity in High School Classrooms: A Promising Avenue for Future Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.
    5. David Cerro-Herrero & Josué Prieto-Prieto & Mikel Vaquero-Solis & Miguel Ángel Tapia-Serrano & Pedro Antonio Sánchez-Miguel, 2022. "Analysis of Variables That Influence the Walkability of School Environments Based on the Delphi Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, October.
    6. Eva Savolainen & Stina Rutberg & Ylva Backman & Anna-Karin Lindqvist, 2020. "Long-Term Perspectives of a School-Based Intervention to Promote Active School Transportation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.
    7. Beatriz Polo-Recuero & Miguel Ángel Rojo-Tirado & Alfonso Ordóñez-Dios & Denise Breitkreuz & Alberto Lorenzo, 2021. "The Effects of Bike Desks in Formal Education Classroom-Based Physical Activity: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-11, June.
    8. Myrto F. Mavilidi & Sue Bennett & Fred Paas & Anthony D. Okely & Spyridoula Vazou, 2021. "Parents’ and Early Childhood Educators’ Perceptions on Movement and Learning Program Implementation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Cristiana Mercê & Marco Branco & David Catela & Frederico Lopes & Rita Cordovil, 2022. "Learning to Cycle: From Training Wheels to Balance Bike," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, February.
    10. Pengxiang Ding & Suwei Feng, 2022. "How School Travel Affects Children’s Psychological Well-Being and Academic Achievement in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, October.
    11. Bethy Merchán-Sanmartín & Mayra Brocel-Bajaña & Johny Pambabay-Calero & Sergio Bauz-Olvera & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar & Paúl Carrión-Mero, 2022. "Multivariate Analysis on Physical Activity, Emotional and Health Status of University Students Caused by COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-22, September.
    12. Patricia Gálvez-Fernández & Manuel Herrador-Colmenero & Pablo Campos-Garzón & Daniel Molina-Soberanes & Romina Gisele Saucedo-Araujo & María Jesús Aranda-Balboa & Amador Jesús Lara-Sánchez & Víctor Se, 2022. "Convergent Validation of a Self-Reported Commuting to and from School Diary in Spanish Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Ruth Boat & Simon B. Cooper & Fabio Carlevaro & Francesca Magno & Giulia Bardaglio & Giovanni Musella & Daniele Magistro, 2022. "16 Weeks of Physically Active Mathematics and English Language Lessons Improves Cognitive Function and Gross Motor Skills in Children Aged 8–9 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Julia Lynch & Gráinne O’Donoghue & Casey L. Peiris, 2022. "Classroom Movement Breaks and Physically Active Learning Are Feasible, Reduce Sedentary Behaviour and Fatigue, and May Increase Focus in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.
    15. Ximena Palma-Leal & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Pablo Campos-Garzón & Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Palma Chillón, 2021. "New Self-Report Measures of Commuting Behaviors to University and Their Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5972-:d:400188. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.