The Relationship Between Academic Achievement and Physical Fitness

Authors

  • LeaAnn Tyson Martin
  • Gordon R. Chalmers

Abstract

Over the past 50 years research has typically demonstrated either no, or a weak relationship between academic performance and physical performance. Nevertheless, the fact that any positive relationship has been found has lead to the “healthy children learn better” concept currently being promoted in schools, and used as a rationale to justify physical education programs. The conclusions of previous studies have been based on the statistical significance of the results, and have not incorporated the practical significance. The authors investigated the relationship between academic performance, as measured by scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and physical fitness, as measured by performance on the President’s Challenge. Subjects were 5847 Seattle School District students in grades three, five, six and eight. The correlation between mean physical and academic percentile scores was 0.19, p <.05. While statistically significant, this correlation indicated that only 3.6% of the variance in academic performance could be explained by physical fitness. The low level indicated that the relationship between academic performance and physical fitness is of little practical importance. Accordingly, physical education programs should not be advocated as a means to promote academic achievement in students.?

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Published

2007-10-26

Issue

Vol. 64 No. 4 (2007)

Section

Articles

License

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