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Physical Activity and Academic Performance: The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Depression

Author

Listed:
  • Sumaira Kayani

    (Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, XiXi Campus, 148 TianMuShan Road, Hangzhou 310028, China
    Division of Continuing Education, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Punjab 46300, Pakistan)

  • Tayyaba Kiyani

    (Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, XiXi Campus, 148 TianMuShan Road, Hangzhou 310028, China)

  • Jin Wang

    (Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, XiXi Campus, 148 TianMuShan Road, Hangzhou 310028, China)

  • María Luisa Zagalaz Sánchez

    (Department of Didactics of Plastic and Body Musical Expression, University of Jaen, Las Lagunillas Campus, Building Humanities and Education Sciences I (D2), Unit: D2-125, 23071 Jaén, Spain)

  • Saima Kayani

    (Department of Education, Women University Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 12500, Pakistan)

  • Haroona Qurban

    (Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang University, XiXi Campus, 148 TianMuShan Road, Hangzhou 310028, China)

Abstract

An important step to enhance the academic efficiency of students is increasing their physical activity. For this reason, it is necessary to see to what extent physical activity is related to the academic performance of the students and what might mediate this. A major objective of the study is to explore self-esteem and depression as mediators between physical activity and academic performance. On the basis of informed consent to participate in the study, 358 participants have been selected from Universities in Pakistan, and they were asked about their physical activity, depression during their study and self-esteem through self-report. Participants self-reported their self-esteem, level of depression and their physical activity through standardized measures; the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (1965), the University stress scale (2016), and the short form of the International Physical Activity questionnaire (2003), respectively. Academic performance had been measured as the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of the last two consecutive semesters. Self-esteem and depression were found to be significant mediators between physical activity and academic performance. The total effect of physical activity on academic performance was significant but smaller than the total indirect effect through mediators. Though total indirect effect is the combination of the effect of self-esteem and depression, but the larger contribution is of self-esteem which has been found to be the strongest mediator between physical activity and academic performance. The study has implications for future research, both in terms of testing the model and testing psychological constructs. Also, the study emphasizes that the importance of physical activity has to be kept in mind while designing a curriculum of an educational institution in order to foster sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Sumaira Kayani & Tayyaba Kiyani & Jin Wang & María Luisa Zagalaz Sánchez & Saima Kayani & Haroona Qurban, 2018. "Physical Activity and Academic Performance: The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Depression," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3633-:d:174893
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xinqiao Liu & Xueheng Gao & Siqing Ping, 2019. "Post-1990s College Students Academic Sustainability: The Role of Negative Emotions, Achievement Goals, and Self-efficacy on Academic Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Sumaira Kayani & Jin Wang & Michele Biasutti & María Luisa Zagalaz Sánchez & Tayyaba Kiyani & Saima Kayani, 2020. "Mechanism Between Physical Activity and Academic Anxiety: Evidence from Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Kathrin Wunsch & Janis Fiedler & Philip Bachert & Alexander Woll, 2021. "The Tridirectional Relationship among Physical Activity, Stress, and Academic Performance in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Sumaira Kayani & Tayyaba Kiyani & Saima Kayani & Tony Morris & Michele Biasutti & Jin Wang, 2021. "Physical Activity and Anxiety of Chinese University Students: Mediation of Self-System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Dr. Zarina Akhtar & Rabia Kishwer & Hafiza Bushra Wazir & Syed Muhammad Shoaib Fehran & Dr. Shabnam Razaq, 2023. "Effects of Depression, Aggression, and Self-Concept on the Academic Achievement of University Students," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 9(2), pages 443-451.
    6. Mei Cao & Yongzhen Teng & Na Shao & Yijin Wu, 2023. "The relationship between home-based physical activity and general well-being among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediation effect of self-esteem," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-6, December.
    7. 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.

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