Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: August | Volume: 10 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 26-34
Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement among School Going Children of Surat City, Gujarat: A Correlational Study
Shah SS1, Diwan SJ2
1Ph.D. Scholar (Gujarat University, Ahmedabad) & Assistant professor, SPB Physiotherapy College, Surat, Gujarat, India.
2Ph. D. Guide (Gujarat University, Ahmedabad) & Lecturer, SBB Physiotherapy College, V.S.hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Corresponding Author: Shah SS
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose: In the Gujarati culture, Education is so strongly emphasised by parents as well as by school educators. They believe that academic success is only the indicator of success, while too much physical activity (PA) is often discouraged because it drains energy and affects academic performance and concentration. So the present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between PA and academic achievement (AA) among school children of Surat city, Gujarat.
Methodology: The participants were 210 children (11-14 years) selected from 7 different schools (Gujarat board secondary education) of Surat city. PA was assessed with the Physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ-C).Students’ AA was noted by their recent examination results in core subjects including language (Gujarati and English), mathematics, science and social study provided by the administrative services of the schools participating in the study. Anthropometric data {Height (meters), weight (Kg), BMI (body mass index)} and self-reported socio-demographic data were also recorded.
Results: Mean±SD of PA level among children (n=207) was 2.40±0.78.Finding showed a PA has significant moderate positive correlation with AA.(rho value for the Maths: 0.47, science: 0.44, English:0.50,Gujarati:0.40,Social study:0.42,p value for all the subjects <0.0001).
Conclusion: Present study concluded that PA has an impact on AA of school children, so the PA in school setting as well as outside the school should be promoted by parents and school teachers for 2 main reasons: As PA increases AA and physical fitness too.
Key words: Physical activity, PAQ-C, Academic achievement, School children