Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Physical activity is an important protective factor throughout life. However, little research has observed the associations between the practice of physical activity and academic success longitudinally, and none have done so with a pan-Canadian sample. This...
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MDPI AG
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1140 |
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| author | Laurie-Anne Kosak Kianoush Harandian Simon L. Bacon Caroline Fitzpatrick Luca Correale Linda S. Pagani |
| author_facet | Laurie-Anne Kosak Kianoush Harandian Simon L. Bacon Caroline Fitzpatrick Luca Correale Linda S. Pagani |
| author_sort | Laurie-Anne Kosak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Physical activity is an important protective factor throughout life. However, little research has observed the associations between the practice of physical activity and academic success longitudinally, and none have done so with a pan-Canadian sample. This article aims to examine the prospective associations between active leisure in middle childhood and academic achievement in emerging adulthood, for both boys and girls, beyond several family factors. <b>Methods</b>: Participants are 2775 children from the National Longitudinal Study on Children and Youth (NLSCY) aged between 12 and 20 years. Active leisure was self-reported by children at age 12 years regarding their weekly organized sport, artistic sport, and unstructured physical activity participation outside of school hours. Academic success was measured by self-reported school average at age 18 years and the obtention of high school diploma at age 20 years. <b>Results</b>: Girls who engaged in more organized or artistic sports at age 12 years had better academic results at age 18 years (respectively β = −0.082, <i>p</i> < 0.01; β = −0.228, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Both boys and girls who partook in more organized sports at age 12 years were more likely to graduate from high school by age 20 years (respectively β = −0.146, <i>p</i> < 0.001; β = −0.071, <i>p</i> < 0.05). However, girls who engaged in more unstructured physical activity at age 12 years had lower academic achievement at age 18 years (β = 0.077, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Policy makers should aim to reduce the many barriers to an active lifestyle in childhood. Parents should be encouraged to lead their children to go play outside with friends to allow them to fully reap the benefits of an active lifestyle from a young age. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9384afb0b73840be8ae6b0622ccd0a1d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-9384afb0b73840be8ae6b0622ccd0a1d2025-08-20T01:55:28ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-09-01119114010.3390/children11091140Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging AdulthoodLaurie-Anne Kosak0Kianoush Harandian1Simon L. Bacon2Caroline Fitzpatrick3Luca Correale4Linda S. Pagani5School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, CanadaSchool of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, CanadaMontreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (MBMC), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montreal, QC H4J 1C5, CanadaSchool Environment Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, CanadaSports Science Unit, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, PV, ItalySchool of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Physical activity is an important protective factor throughout life. However, little research has observed the associations between the practice of physical activity and academic success longitudinally, and none have done so with a pan-Canadian sample. This article aims to examine the prospective associations between active leisure in middle childhood and academic achievement in emerging adulthood, for both boys and girls, beyond several family factors. <b>Methods</b>: Participants are 2775 children from the National Longitudinal Study on Children and Youth (NLSCY) aged between 12 and 20 years. Active leisure was self-reported by children at age 12 years regarding their weekly organized sport, artistic sport, and unstructured physical activity participation outside of school hours. Academic success was measured by self-reported school average at age 18 years and the obtention of high school diploma at age 20 years. <b>Results</b>: Girls who engaged in more organized or artistic sports at age 12 years had better academic results at age 18 years (respectively β = −0.082, <i>p</i> < 0.01; β = −0.228, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Both boys and girls who partook in more organized sports at age 12 years were more likely to graduate from high school by age 20 years (respectively β = −0.146, <i>p</i> < 0.001; β = −0.071, <i>p</i> < 0.05). However, girls who engaged in more unstructured physical activity at age 12 years had lower academic achievement at age 18 years (β = 0.077, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Policy makers should aim to reduce the many barriers to an active lifestyle in childhood. Parents should be encouraged to lead their children to go play outside with friends to allow them to fully reap the benefits of an active lifestyle from a young age.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1140active leisurephysical activityorganized sportschool achievementchild developmentlongitudinal analyses |
| spellingShingle | Laurie-Anne Kosak Kianoush Harandian Simon L. Bacon Caroline Fitzpatrick Luca Correale Linda S. Pagani Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood Children active leisure physical activity organized sport school achievement child development longitudinal analyses |
| title | Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood |
| title_full | Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood |
| title_fullStr | Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood |
| title_short | Active Child, Accomplished Youth: Middle Childhood Active Leisure Fuels Academic Success by Emerging Adulthood |
| title_sort | active child accomplished youth middle childhood active leisure fuels academic success by emerging adulthood |
| topic | active leisure physical activity organized sport school achievement child development longitudinal analyses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1140 |
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