Wang Junyu, Yang Yong, Wu Jun, Xie Ting, Guo Xuejun, Yuan Xun, Li Ting, Zhang Yu, Zhao Huiying, Zhuang Jie
School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai City, China.
School of Physical Education, Chaohu University, Hefei City, China.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 27;25(1):341. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21487-z.
Past cross-sectional studies have reported a positive association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and academic achievement in children and adolescents. Despite this, the influence of variations in MVPA over time on academic achievement remains yet to be definitively understood. Therefore, this study aims to track the patterns of MVPA and examine how they are associated with academic achievement over a three-year period among Chinese primary school students.
The longitudinal study examined the MVPA and academic achievement of a cohort of 202 primary school children over a three-year period. MVPA was assessed via accelerometers and analysed using Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA). Academic achievement was quantified using standardised test scores in reading, mathematics, and language. Group-Based Trajectory Models (GBTMs) were used to identify patterns of MVPA. Covariates such as demographics, sleep duration, and attitudes towards sports were adjusted in the Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) used to examine associations with academic achievement. All statistical analyses were conducted using R and SAS 9.4 software.
This study identified three distinct MVPA trajectories: Low (74.8%), Decline (13.2%), and High (12.0%). At baseline, the High MVPA group had better academic achievement with mean scores of 89.8 in reading, 94.5 in mathematics, and 94.7 in language, compared to the Low MVPA group with mean scores of 80.4, 83.0, and 84.9, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, GEE models showed significant associations between MVPA trajectories and improved academic achievement. Compared to the Low MVPA group, the Decline MVPA group exhibited significant score increases in reading (β = 4.11, 95% CI: 1-7.21) and mathematics (β = 2.79, 95% CI: 0.09-5.5). The High MVPA group exhibited significant score increases in reading (β = 11.3, 95% CI: 7.93-14.67), mathematics (β = 12.32, 95% CI: 9.61-15.02), and language (β = 11.53, 95% CI: 8.99-14.06). Additionally, notable gender differences in MVPA trajectories were observed, and a positive association was found between favorable sports attitudes and improved academic achievement.
This study reveals three distinct MVPA trajectories among Chinese primary school children and demonstrates that those with high MVPA trajectories showcase superior academic achievements, particularly in reading, mathematics, and language. This highlights the vital role of MVPA in supporting academic excellence.
过去的横断面研究报告称，儿童和青少年的中度至剧烈身体活动（MVPA）与学业成绩之间存在正相关。尽管如此，MVPA随时间变化对学业成绩的影响仍有待确切了解。因此，本研究旨在追踪中国小学生的MVPA模式，并考察在三年时间里这些模式与学业成绩是如何关联的。
这项纵向研究在三年时间里考察了202名小学生队列的MVPA和学业成绩。通过加速度计评估MVPA，并使用成分数据分析（CoDA）进行分析。学业成绩用阅读、数学和语言方面的标准化考试分数来量化。基于群体的轨迹模型（GBTMs）用于识别MVPA模式。在用于考察与学业成绩关联的广义估计方程（GEEs）中对人口统计学、睡眠时间和对体育的态度等协变量进行了调整。所有统计分析均使用R和SAS 9.4软件进行。
本研究识别出三种不同的MVPA轨迹：低（74.8%）、下降（13.2%）和高（12.0%）。在基线时，高MVPA组的学业成绩更好，阅读平均分为89.8，数学平均分为94.5，语言平均分为94.7，而低MVPA组的阅读、数学和语言平均分分别为80.4、83.0和84.9。在对混杂因素进行调整后，GEE模型显示MVPA轨迹与学业成绩提高之间存在显著关联。与低MVPA组相比，下降MVPA组在阅读（β = 4.11，95%置信区间：[1, 7.21]）和数学（β = 2.79，95%置信区间：[0.09, 5.5]）方面的分数有显著提高。高MVPA组在阅读（β = 11.3，95%置信区间：[7.93, 14.67]）、数学（β = 12.32，95%置信区间：[9.61, 15.02]）和语言（β = 11.53，95%置信区间：[8.99, 14.06]）方面的分数有显著提高。此外，观察到MVPA轨迹存在显著的性别差异，并且发现积极的体育态度与学业成绩提高之间存在正相关。
本研究揭示了中国小学生中三种不同的MVPA轨迹，并表明具有高MVPA轨迹的学生展现出卓越的学业成绩，尤其是在阅读、数学和语言方面。这凸显了MVPA在支持学业优异方面的重要作用。
