Is academic performance correlated with physical performance and daily habits of pre-adolescent students in North Lebanon?

Abstract

Research aim: The aim of this research was to study the correlation between academic performance with physical performances and daily habits in pre-adolescent students in North Lebanon. Methods: This study has been conducted during the spring 2019 semester, in North Lebanon, at Minyeh Al-Arz Educational Compound. 187 students, of grades 2 and 3 French and English departments has been involved in this study. Children were asked to fill a questionnaire about their daily habits, and passed some physical and one cognition test. General average was collected from the schools administration for each child. Results: The main findings of this study are that PA and academic performance are correlated. Also BMI and aerobic capacity has been shown to contribute to the enhancement of academic achievements. Nevertheless, sleeping hours, and screen time seem also to effect academic performance and PA performances and level. Conclusion: In this group of 187 children aged between 8 and 9 years old, physical activity, and different daily habits are correlated with academic performance, yet certain measures should be taken into account to stimulate the positive correlation.