Meta-analyses of physical activity effects on youth cognition and academic performance show small effect sizes (0.1–0.3) with substantial heterogeneity¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r2 · q3 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i1 Meta-analyses included in the low- and critically low-quality reviews showed small favourable effect sizes (0.1–0.3) with high heterogeneity for physical activity effects on cognition and academic performance. → Wassenaar Thomas M. 2020

Evidence¶

Wassenaar Thomas M. 2020¶

Wassenaar Thomas M., Williamson Wilby, Johansen-Berg Heidi, Dawes Helen, Roberts Nia, Foster Charlie, Sexton Claire E. (2020). A critical evaluation of systematic reviews assessing the effect of chronic physical activity on academic achievement, cognition and the brain in children and adolescents: a systematic review. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-00959-y

q3 · i1 · quant-synthesis · r2

The review of reviews synthesised meta-analytic results from 18 low or critically low quality reviews. It reports "small effect sizes (0.1–0.3)" accompanied by high heterogeneity; individual meta-analyses in Table 2 and 3 report d or g values in this range with I2 often above 50%.

"Eighteen (critically) low-quality reviews presented mixed favourable and null effects, with meta-analyses showing small effect sizes (0.1–0.3) and high heterogeneity."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Evidence for physical activity benefits on academic achievement in youth is inconsistent: six of twelve reviews concluded benefits, six mixed or inconclusive
• Eight of thirteen reviews concluded physical activity benefits cognitive performance, five reported mixed or inconclusive evidence, and none suggested worse cognition
• A single bout of acute physical activity increases overall academic outcomes in school-aged youth (Hedge's g = 0.35)
• Acute physical activity improves mathematics performance in school-aged youth (Hedge's g = 0.29 multivariate)
• Chronic physical activity shows a medium positive effect on academic achievement while acute physical activity shows a null effect — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Mathematics is the subject where positive associations with physical activity are found most consistently in systematic reviews, though meta-analytic effects range from null to medium — related
• Children with lower baseline achievement, lower IQ or lower school engagement may benefit more from school-based PA interventions, though evidence is mixed — related
• Effect sizes across included studies show high heterogeneity (all I² above 75%) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Effect sizes across the included studies are highly heterogeneous (I² = 91.37%), indicating moderating factors — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Physical activity has null or small-to-medium positive effects on school-age children's and adolescents' academic achievement according to meta-analyses — related