Acute physical activity improves mathematics performance in school-aged youth (Hedge's g = 0.29 multivariate)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · quant-synthesis r2–r3 · q3 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i1 Nine studies showed acute physical activity improved mathematics performance (univariate g = 0.31; multivariate g = 0.29). → Muntaner-Mas A 2024 q3 i1 The mathematics effect was significant for math tests (g = 0.34) but not for arithmetic tests (g = 0.18, p = 0.237). → Muntaner-Mas A 2024 (2)

Evidence¶

Muntaner-Mas A 2024¶

Muntaner-Mas A, Morales JS, Martínez-de-Quel Ó, Lubans DR, García-Hermoso A. (2024). Acute effect of physical activity on academic outcomes in school-aged youth: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14479

q3 · i1 · quant-synthesis · r3

Univariate and multivariate random-effects meta-analysis of nine studies assessing mathematics via math tests, WIAT-III, WRAT-3/4 and the New York State Testing Program. Both analyses showed significant improvement, with the multivariate estimate "Hedge's g = 0.29, 95% CI, 0.16-0.42".

"Our univariate and multivariate meta-analysis showed that acute physical activity interventions were associated with improved mathematics performance (univariate: Hedge's g = 0.31, 95% CI, 0.18-0.44, p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%; multivariate: Hedge's g = 0.29, 95% CI, 0.16-0.42, p < 0.001, I 2 = 28.92%)"

Muntaner-Mas A 2024 (2)¶

Muntaner-Mas A, Morales JS, Martínez-de-Quel Ó, Lubans DR, García-Hermoso A. (2024). Acute effect of physical activity on academic outcomes in school-aged youth: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14479

q3 · i1 · quant-synthesis · r2

Sub-group meta-analysis by mathematics skill type. Math tests showed a significant increase (g = 0.34) while arithmetic tests did not (g = 0.18, p = 0.237); the between-group difference was not significant (p = 0.35).

"a significant increase was observed in math tests (Hedge's g = 0.34, 95% CI, 0.19-0.48, p < 0.001, I 2 = 0%), but not in arithmetic tests (Hedge's g = 0.18, 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.48, p = 0.237, I 2 = 0%) (p = 0.35 between groups)"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Acute physical activity improves language performance overall (g = 0.28 multivariate), driven by reading, with no significant effect on spelling or sentence comprehension — related
• A single bout of acute physical activity increases overall academic outcomes in school-aged youth (Hedge's g = 0.35) — a broader claim this one bears on
• Including behavior change techniques in acute physical activity interventions is the only moderator associated with larger academic effects (g = 0.54 vs 0.23) — related
• Acute physical activity increases on-task classroom behavior, with off-task behavior patterns differing by time of day — related
• Age, setting, design, number of conditions, activity type, duration, intensity and test timing showed no significant moderation of acute physical activity effects on academic outcomes — related
• Reported benefits of physical activity programs on executive functions depend on program duration and the executive domain analyzed — related
• Age may moderate acute PA effects on attention: effects appeared for 9–10 year olds but not 7–8 year olds — related
• Acute physical activity has a positive effect on attention in preadolescent children (g = 0.43) — related
• Meta-analyses of physical activity effects on youth cognition and academic performance show small effect sizes (0.1–0.3) with substantial heterogeneity