Effects of a Physical Education Intervention on Academic Performance: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. 2020

Rodrigo Antunes Lima, and Fernanda Cunha Soares, and Jorge Bezerra, and Mauro Virgílio Gomes de Barros
Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria.

We investigated the effects of three different interventions on academic performance in students enrolled in the first year of high school. This was a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted with 1200 students enrolled in the first year of high school. Schools were randomly assigned to: 1. Doubling physical education (PE) classes (3:20 h of PE/week); 2. workshop with the PE teachers; 3. workshop with the PE teachers and doubling the PE classes; and 4. control group (1:40 h of PE/week). We assured that the schools within the groups were equal regarding: The structural condition of the sports court; number of PE teachers; number of school classes; and the average number of students per classroom. Overall, the intervention was not effective in improving the students' academic performance. However, the subgroup analysis showed that the workshop intervention group increased the academic performance of students who had failed an academic year (from 16 years of age), compared to their peers in the doubling the PE classes (1.3 points on average) and the control groups (1.4 points on average). Enhancing the pedagogical skills of the teachers is a promising approach in improving the academic performance of students who failed an academic year.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010806 Physical Education and Training Instructional programs in the care and development of the body, often in schools. The concept does not include prescribed exercises, which is EXERCISE THERAPY. Education, Physical,Physical Education,Physical Education, Training
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000073978 Academic Performance A quantitative or qualitative measure of intellectual, scholarly, or scholastic accomplishment. Academic Test Performance,Academic Test Scores,Educational Test Performance,Educational Test Scores,Academic Performances,Academic Test Performances,Academic Test Score,Educational Test Performances,Educational Test Score,Performance, Academic,Performance, Academic Test,Performance, Educational Test,Performances, Academic,Performances, Educational Test,Score, Academic Test,Score, Educational Test,Scores, Educational Test,Test Performance, Academic,Test Performance, Educational,Test Performances, Educational,Test Score, Educational,Test Scores, Academic,Test Scores, Educational
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012572 School Health Services Preventive health services provided for students. It excludes college or university students. Health Services, School,School Health Promotion,School-Based Health Services,School-Based Services,Services, School Health,Health Promotion, School,Health Promotions, School,Health Service, School,Health Service, School-Based,Health Services, School-Based,Promotion, School Health,Promotions, School Health,School Based Health Services,School Based Services,School Health Promotions,School Health Service,School-Based Health Service,School-Based Service,Service, School Health,Service, School-Based,Service, School-Based Health,Services, School-Based,Services, School-Based Health
D012574 Schools Educational institutions. Primary Schools,Schools, Secondary,Secondary Schools,Primary School,School,School, Primary,School, Secondary,Schools, Primary,Secondary School
D013334 Students Individuals enrolled in a school or formal educational program. School Enrollment,Enrollment, School,Enrollments, School,School Enrollments,Student
D015444 Exercise Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure. Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise

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