Mediating effect of aerobic fitness on the association between physical activity and academic achievement among adolescents: A cross-sectional study in Okinawa, Japan

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential role of aerobic fitness (AF) as a mediator of the association between physical activity (PA) and academic achievement (AA) among Japanese junior high school students. A cross-sectional data was collected from 608 7th grade students enrolled at five public junior high schools in two suburban municipalities in Okinawa, Japan. Self-reported PA was assessed using the Patient-Centred Assessment and Counselling for Exercise plus Nutrition questionnaire. The 20-meter shuttle run test was performed to determine AF. AA was evaluated using the overall grade point average. Family structure, parental education level, and achievement motives were the self-reported covariates. The results of the bootstrapped mediation analysis indicated that PA had a direct effect on AF, which in turn influenced the AA among boys. After adjusting for AF, the association between PA and AA disappeared while the association of AF with AA still remained. However, neither PA nor AF was associated with the AA of girls. Therefore, the hypothesis that AF might mediate the relationship between PA and AA was supported for boys. Promoting AF, as a result of engaging to PA could positively influence AA particularly in boys.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic performance
• moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
• cardiorespiratory fitness
• sex characteristics
• socioeconomic status
• Japan

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all students and teachers who agreed to participate in this study. The survey was implemented smoothly because of the assistance of Mr. Yukitomo Yogi. (Kagoshima University). We would also like to thank Mr. David Ulvog (Okinawa Christian University), Ms. Marian Fe Theresa Lomboy (University of the Philippines Manila), Dr. Paul Michael R. Hernandez (University of the Philippines Manila), and Mr. John Robert Medina (University of the Ryukyus) for proofreading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (JP15K12725).