Cen Zhenyu, Zhang Kai, López-Gil José Francisco, Yang Xingyi, Li Chunxiao, Chen Sitong
School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Healthy Activity Living and Obesity (HALO) Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada.
J Exerc Sci Fit. 2025 Oct;23(4):306-312. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2025.06.002. Epub 2025 Jun 12.
The aim of this study was to assess the associations of muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) with academic performance (AP) of different subjects in Chinese school-aged children and adolescents.
Cross-sectional data on 67,281 students were included. Engagement in MSE was assessed using a specific question, and AP was assessed through self-reported grade in Literacy (Chinese), Mathematics, and Language (English). The analysis explored the associations between days of engagement in MSE and AP in Chinese, Mathematics, and English, separately. Results were presented as odds ratios (ORs).
There was a generally progressive increase in the likelihood of better AP of Chinese, Mathematics and English with increase in days of MSE. Specifically, one day of MSE per week was associated with an 11 % increase of better AP in Chinese, with a gradual increase up to 4 days per week (OR = 1.42), peaking at 6 days. The odds of enhanced AP related to Mathematics increased with days of MSE, starting with a 9 % increase for 1 day per week (OR = 1.09), and reaching a 39 % increase at 4 days per week. The odds of improved AP in English were 9 % higher for 1 day per week of MSE and continued to a 31 % increase for 4 days per week.
This study suggests the potential positive role of MSE in enhancing AP in children and adolescents. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings based on longitudinal or intervention studies.
本研究旨在评估中国学龄儿童和青少年的肌肉强化运动（MSE）与不同学科学习成绩（AP）之间的关联。
纳入了67281名学生的横断面数据。通过一个特定问题评估MSE的参与情况，并通过自我报告的语文（中文）、数学和英语成绩来评估学业成绩。该分析分别探讨了参与MSE的天数与语文、数学和英语学业成绩之间的关联。结果以优势比（OR）呈现。
随着MSE天数的增加，语文、数学和英语学业成绩提高的可能性总体呈逐步上升趋势。具体而言，每周进行1天MSE与语文成绩提高的可能性增加11%相关，每周增加至4天呈逐渐上升趋势（OR = 1.42），在6天时达到峰值。与数学相关的学业成绩提高的优势随着MSE天数的增加而增加，从每周1天增加9%（OR = 1.09）开始，到每周4天增加39%。每周进行1天MSE时，英语学业成绩提高的优势高出9%，并持续到每周4天增加31%。
本研究表明MSE在提高儿童和青少年学业成绩方面具有潜在的积极作用。未来需要基于纵向研究或干预研究来证实我们的发现。
