Association between physical fitness and lifestyles with academic achievement in Chilean high school students
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
- Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela+−
- Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz+−
- Antonio Castillo-Paredes+−
- Pablo Valdes-Badilla+−
- Iván Molina-Márquez+−
- Hector Fuentes-Barría+−
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/sportis.2025.11.3.11920Abstract
Academic achievement plays a key role in access to higher education, influenced by psychological, biological, and social factors. Physical fitness and healthy lifestyles are positively associated with cognitive functions, potentially improving academic achievement. This study is descriptive-correlational and has an observational cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 145 students (46 women and 99 men). Data collection included anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests, and lifestyle assessments. Academic achievement was measured using participants’ final averages in some matters. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed key factors influencing academic achievement across matters. For language (R² = 0.216), higher achievement was associated with female students (β = -0.246; p = 0.033), lower BMI (β = -0.047; p = 0.016), better flexibility (Scratch Test: β = 0.024; p = 0.024), and lower physical activity levels (β = -0.263; p = 0.001). In mathematics (R² = 0.101), better achievement was related to lower physical activity levels (β = -0.403; p = 0.003) and superior performance in the jump with feet together (β = 0.008; p = 0.047). For English (R² = 0.146), higher achievement correlated with lower physical activity levels (β = -0.369; p = 0.002), lower BMI (β = -0.058; p = 0.081), and better sleep quality (β = 0.058; p = 0.020). Academic achievement is influenced by factors such as a lower BMI, better flexibility, superior performance in horizontal jump, sleep quality, and reduced physical activity levels. These findings emphasize the multifactorial nature of academic success, highlighting the importance of physical fitness, mental health, and lifestyle factors.
Keywords:
Article Details
References
Alotaibi, A. D., Alosaimi, F. M., Alajlan, A. A., & Bin Abdulrahman, K. A. (2020). The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students. Journal of Family & Community Medicine, 27(1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_132_19
Altmann, S., Ringhof, S., Neumann, R., Woll, A., & Rumpf, M. C. (2019). Validity and reliability of speed tests used in soccer: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 14(8), e0220982. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220982
Anderson, A. S., & Good, D. J. (2016). Increased body weight affects academic performance in university students. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5, 220–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.12.020
Ávila-García, M., Baena-Ogalla, N., Huertas-Delgado, F. J., Tercedor, P., & Villa-González, E. (2020). The relationship between physical activity levels, cardiorespiratory fitness and academic achievement in school-age children from southern Spain. Sustainability, 12(8), 3459. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083459
Baltaci, G., Ün, N., Tunay, V., Besler, A., & Gerçeker, S. (2003). Comparison of three different sit and reach tests for measurement of hamstring flexibility in female university students. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(1), 59–61. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.37.1.59
Barbosa, A., Whiting, S., Simmonds, P., Scotini Moreno, R., Mendes, R., & Breda, J. (2020). Physical activity and academic achievement: An umbrella review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5972. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165972
Brattico, E., Bonetti, L., Ferretti, G., Vuust, P., & Matrone, C. (2021). Putting cells in motion: Advantages of endogenous boosting of BDNF production. Cells, 10(1), 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10010183
Brumariu, L. E., Waslin, S. M., Gastelle, M., Kochendorfer, L. B., & Kerns, K. A. (2023). Anxiety, academic achievement, and academic self-concept: Meta-analytic syntheses of their relations across developmental periods. Development and Psychopathology, 35(4), 1597–1613. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579422000323
Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research, 28(2), 193–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4
Caso-Niebla, J., & Hernández, L. (2007). Variables que inciden en el rendimiento académico de adolescentes mexicanos. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 39(3), 487–501. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=s0120-05342007000300004&lng=en&tlng=es
Chen, L. J., Fox, K. R., Ku, P. W., & Taun, C. Y. (2013). Fitness change and subsequent academic performance in adolescents. The Journal of School Health, 83(9), 631–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12075
Cigarroa, Igor, Bravo-Leal, Michelle, Zapata-Lamana, Rafael, Pavón-León, Patricia, Herrera, Carlos, Guzmán-Muñoz, Eduardo, Alonso-Palacio, Luz Marina, & Borja-González, Juana. (2022). Factores socio demográficos y de estilos de vida asociados a un bajo nivel de actividad física durante el confinamiento producto del COVID-19 en adultos latinoamericanos. Revista médica de Chile, 150(5), 634-642. https://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0034-98872022000500634
Concha-Cisternas, Y., Guzmán-Muñoz, E., Valdés-Badilla, P., Lira-Cea, C., Petermann, F., & Celis-Morales, C. (2018). Factores de riesgo asociados a bajo nivel de actividad física y exceso de peso corporal en estudiantes universitarios. Revista Médica de Chile, 146(8), 840–849. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0034-98872018000800840
Concha-Cisternas, Yeny, Castillo-Retamal, Marcelo, & Guzmán-Muñoz, Eduardo. (2020). Comparación de la calidad de vida en estudiantes universitarios según nivel de actividad física. Universidad y Salud, 22(1), 33-40. https://doi.org/10.22267/rus.202201.172
Concha-Cisternas, Y., Arévalo-Gómez, A., Cancino Pizarro, M., Díaz-Martínez, X., & Guzmán-Muñoz, E. (2024). Influence of active commuting on cardiorespiratory fitness in schoolchildren / Influencia de los desplazamientos activos sobre la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria en escolares. Retos, 58, 1022–1029. https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/retos/index
Chu, T., Liu, X., Takayanagi, S., Matsushita, T., & Kishimoto, H. (2023). Association between mental health and academic performance among university undergraduates: The interacting role of lifestyle behaviors. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 32(1), e1938. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1938
Colonio, L. (2017). Estilos de aprendizaje y rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de los cursos comprendidos dentro de la línea de construcción – DAC-FIC-UNI [Tesis de licenciatura, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia]. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12866/3848
Cooper, K. H. (1968). A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake: Correlation between field and treadmill testing. JAMA, 203(3), 201–204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5694044/
Corbin, C. B., & Le Masurier, G. C. (2014). Fitness for life. Human Kinetics. https://books.google.es/books?id=3O56DwAAQBAJ
Crego, A., Carrillo-Díaz, M., Armfield, J. M., & Romero, M. (2016). Stress and academic performance in dental students: The role of coping strategies and examination-related self-efficacy. Journal of Dental Education, 80(2), 165–172. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2016.80.2.tb06072.x
Daimiel, L., Martínez-González, M. A., Corella, D., Salas-Salvadó, J., Schröder, H., Vioque, J., Romaguera, D., Martínez, J. A., Wärnberg, J., Lopez-Miranda, J., Estruch, R., ... Ordovás, J. M. (2020). Physical fitness and physical activity association with cognitive function and quality of life: Baseline cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 3472. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59458-6
Dubuc, M. M., Aubertin-Leheudre, M., & Karelis, A. D. (2020). Gender differences in academic performance of high school students: The relationship with cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle endurance, and test anxiety. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 11, 201. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_258_18
Estrada García, A. (2018). Estilos de aprendizaje y rendimiento académico. Revista Boletín Redipe, 7(7), 218–228. https://revista.redipe.org/index.php/1/article/view/536
Esteban-Cornejo, I., Cadenas-Sánchez, C., Contreras-Rodríguez, O., Verdejo-Román, J., Mora-González, J., Migueles, J. H., Henriksson, P., Davis, C. L., Verdejo-García, A., Catena, A., & Ortega, F. B. (2017). A whole brain volumetric approach in overweight/obese children: Examining the association with different physical fitness components and academic performance. The ActiveBrains project. NeuroImage, 159, 346–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.011
Esteban-Cornejo, I., Tejero-González, C. M., Martínez-Gómez, D., Cabanas-Sánchez, V., Fernández-Santos, J. R., Conde-Caveda, J., Sallis, J. F., Veiga, O. L., & UP & DOWN Study Group. (2014). Objectively measured physical activity has a negative but weak association with academic performance in children and adolescents. Acta Paediatrica, 103(11), e501–e506. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.12757
Faisal, R., Shinwari, L., & Hussain, S. S. (2017). Academic performance of male in comparison with female undergraduate medical students in Pharmacology examinations. JPMA: The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 67(2), 204–208. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28138172/
Fierro-Saldaña, B. (2024). Reseña de Informe Mundial OCDE – 2019: Transformando la Educación Física en Dinámica e Inclusiva para 2030: Análisis Internacional del Currículo. Journal of Movement & Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.5027/jmh-Vol22-Issue1(2025)art220
Gąsior, J. S., Pawłowski, M., Jeleń, P. J., Rameckers, E. A., Williams, C. A., Makuch, R., & Werner, B. (2020). Test–retest reliability of handgrip strength measurement in children and preadolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 8026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218026
González-Fernández, F. T., Delgado-García, G., Coll, J. S., Silva, A. F., Nobari, H., & Clemente, F. M. (2023). Relationship between cognitive functioning and physical fitness in regard to age and sex. BMC Pediatrics, 23(1), 204. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-04028-8
Goizueta, M., Ledermann, C., & Montenegro, H. (2023). El desarrollo y la evaluación de la habilidad de argumentar en el sistema educativo chileno: Tensiones y consecuencias percibidas por el profesorado. Pensamiento Educativo, 60(1), 00103. https://doi.org/10.7764/pel.60.1.2023.3
Gupta, S., Prithviraj, M., Gangwar, A., & Rath, R. S. (2023). Impact of sleep duration, quality, and chronotype on learning and academic performance: A cross-sectional study among first year medical students of a tertiary care institute. Cureus, 15(12), e50413. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50413
Hermassi, S., Chelly, M. S., Michalsik, L. B., Sanal, N. E. M., Hayes, L. D., & Cadenas-Sánchez, C. (2021). Relationship between fatness, physical fitness, and academic performance in normal weight and overweight schoolchild handball players in Qatar State. PLOS ONE, 16(2), e0246476. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246476
Hernandez Martinez, J., Vera Assaoka, T., González Castillo, C., Castillo Cerda, M. A., Herrera Valenzuela, T., Guzmán Muñoz, E., Magani Branco, B. H., & Valdés Badilla, P. (2024). Physical activity habits associated with health variables in Chilean male schoolchildren. Nutrición Clínica y Dietética Hospitalaria, 44(1), 74–83. https://doi.org/10.12873/441hernandez
Jalali, R., Khazaei, H., Paveh, B. K., Hayrani, Z., & Menati, L. (2020). The effect of sleep quality on students' academic achievement. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 11, 497–502. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S261525
Jeon, Y. K., & Ha, C. H. (2017). The effect of exercise intensity on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and memory in adolescents. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 22(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-017-0643-6
Khesht-Masjedi, M. F., Shokrgozar, S., Abdollahi, E., Habibi, B., Asghari, T., Ofoghi, R. S., & Pazhooman, S. (2019). The relationship between gender, age, anxiety, depression, and academic achievement among teenagers. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(3), 799–804. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_103_18
Lavín-Pérez, A. M., León-Llamas, J. L., Salas Costilla, F. J., Collado-Mateo, D., López de Las Heras, R., Gasque Celma, P., & Villafaina, S. (2023). Validity of on-line supervised fitness tests in people with low back pain. Healthcare, 11(7), 1019. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11071019
Le-Cerf, L., Valdés-Badilla, P., & Guzmán-Muñoz, E. (2022). Efectos del entrenamiento de fuerza sobre la condición física en niños y niñas con sobrepeso y obesidad: una revisión sistemática. Retos: Nuevas tendencias en educación física, deporte y recreación, 43, 233–242. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v43i0.87756
Lee, S., Oh, J. W., Son, N. H., & Chung, W. (2022). Association between handgrip strength and cognitive function in older adults: Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2018). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1048. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031048
León-Carrion, J., Damas-López, J., Martín-Rodríguez, J. F., Domínguez-Roldán, J. M., Murillo-Cabezas, F., Barroso Y Martin, J. M., & Domínguez-Morales, M. R. (2008). The hemodynamics of cognitive control: The level of concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin in the superior prefrontal cortex varies as a function of performance in a modified Stroop task. Behavioural Brain Research, 193(2), 248–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2008.06.013
Li, M., Wang, N., & Dupre, M. E. (2022). Association between the self-reported duration and quality of sleep and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 304, 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.039
Lima, R. A., Soares, F. C., van Poppel, M., Savinainen, S., Mäntyselkä, A., Haapala, E. A., & Lakka, T. (2022). Determinants of cognitive performance in children and adolescents: A populational longitudinal study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 8955. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158955
Malm, C., Jakobsson, J., & Isaksson, A. (2019). Physical activity and sports—Real health benefits: A review with insight into the public health of Sweden. Sports, 7(5), 127. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050127
Mandolesi, L., Polverino, A., Montuori, S., Foti, F., Ferraioli, G., Sorrentino, P., & Sorrentino, G. (2018). Effects of physical exercise on cognitive functioning and wellbeing: Biological and psychological benefits. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 509. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509
Marrero-Rivera, J. P., Sobkowiak, O., Jenkins, A. S., Bagnato, S. J., Kline, C. E., Gordon, B. D., & Taverno Ross, S. E. (2024). The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, cognition, and academic outcomes in school-aged Latino children: A scoping review. Children, 11(3), 363. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030363
Martínez-Gómez, D., Martínez-de-Haro, V., Pozo, T., Welk, G. J., Villagra, A., Calle, M. E., & Veiga, O. L. (2009). Fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario de actividad física PAQ-A en adolescentes españoles. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 83, 427–439. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1135-57272009000300008
Okano, K., Kaczmarzyk, J. R., Dave, N., Gabrieli, J. D. E., & Grossman, J. C. (2019). Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students. NPJ Science of Learning, 4, 16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-019-0055-z
Ortega, F. B., Ruiz, J. R., Castillo, M. J., & Sjöström, M. (2008). Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: A powerful marker of health. International Journal of Obesity, 32(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774
Poitras, V. J., Gray, C. E., Borghese, M. M., Carson, V., Chaput, J. P., Janssen, I., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Pate, R. R., Connor Gorber, S., Kho, M. E., Sampson, M., & Tremblay, M. S. (2016). Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 41(6 Suppl 3), S197–S239. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0663
Redondo-Flórez, L., Ramos-Campo, D. J., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2022). Relationship between physical fitness and academic performance in university students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14750. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214750
Román, F., Santibáñez, P., & Vinet, E. (2018). Uso de las escalas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés (DASS-21) como instrumento de tamizaje en jóvenes con problemas clínicos. Acta de Investigación Psicológica, 6(1), 2325–2336. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2007-4719(16)30053-9
Santana, C. C. A., Azevedo, L. B., Cattuzzo, M. T., Hill, J. O., Andrade, L. P., & Prado, W. L. (2017). Physical fitness and academic performance in youth: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(6), 579–603. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12773
Santos, C. A. F., Amirato, G. R., Jacinto, A. F., Pedrosa, A. V., Caldo-Silva, A., Sampaio, A. R., Pimenta, N., Santos, J. M. B., Pochini, A., & Bachi, A. L. L. (2022). Vertical jump tests: A safe instrument to improve the accuracy of the functional capacity assessment in robust older women. Healthcare, 10(2), 323. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10020323
Shrestha, B., & Dunn, L. (2020). The Declaration of Helsinki on medical research involving human subjects: A review of seventh revision. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 17(4), 548–552. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v17i4.1042
Stern, Y., MacKay-Brandt, A., Lee, S., McKinley, P., McIntyre, K., Razlighi, Q., Agarunov, E., Bartels, M., & Sloan, R. P. (2019). Effect of aerobic exercise on cognition in younger adults: A randomized clinical trial. Neurology, 92(9), e905–e916. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000007003
Stodden, D., Sacko, R., & Nesbitt, D. (2015). A review of the promotion of fitness measures and health outcomes in youth. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11(3), 232–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827615619577
Suardiaz-Muro, M., Morante-Ruiz, M., Ortega-Moreno, M., Ruiz, M. A., Martín-Plasencia, P., & Vela-Bueno, A. (2020). Sueño y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios: Revisión sistemática. Revista de Neurología, 71(2), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.7102.2020015
Tsaousis, I., & Alghamdi, M. H. (2022). Examining academic performance across gender differently: Measurement invariance and latent mean differences using bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 896638. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.896638
Van Dusen, D. P., Kelder, S. H., Kohl, H. W., Ranjit, N., & Perry, C. L. (2011). Associations of physical fitness and academic performance among schoolchildren. The Journal of School Health, 81(12), 733–740. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00652.x
Vitasari, P., Wahab, M. N. A., Othman, A., Herawan, T., & Sinnadurai, S. K. (2010). The relationship between study anxiety and academic performance among engineering students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 8, 490–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.12.067
Zhai, X., Ye, M., Gu, Q., Huang, T., Wang, K., Chen, Z., & Fan, X. (2022). The relationship between physical fitness and academic performance among Chinese college students. Journal of American College Health, 70(2), 395–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1751643
Zurc, J., & Planinšec, J. (2022). Associations between physical activity and academic competence: A cross-sectional study among Slovenian primary school students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(2), 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19020623