The effects of physical activity on cognition and academic outcomes depend on the subdomain examined¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2018 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Meta-analytic effects of physical activity varied across the subdomains of executive functions, attention and academic performance. → de Greeff 2018

Evidence¶

de Greeff 2018¶

de Greeff, J. W., Bosker, R. J., Oosterlaan, J., Visscher, C., & Hartman, E. (2018). Effects of physical activity on executive functions, attention and academic performance in preadolescent children: a meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21(5), 501-507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.595

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r2

The meta-analysis of 31 intervention studies distinguished four executive function subdomains, three attention subdomains and three academic performance subdomains, and reports that "The effects did depend on the subdomain." No per-subdomain effect sizes are printed in the available text.

"The effects did depend on the subdomain."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Longitudinal physical activity programs have a positive effect on academic performance in preadolescent children (g = 0.26) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Longitudinal physical activity programs have a positive effect on executive functions in preadolescent children (g = 0.24) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Longitudinal physical activity programs show a positive effect on attention in preadolescent children (g = 0.90), based on a single study — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Classroom physical activity increases children's on-task behaviour, with no consistent gain on attention or other cognitive tests — related
• Acute exercise produces an overall small positive effect on cognition, with executive functions benefiting most and effects lasting up to two hours post-exercise — related
• Reported benefits of physical activity programs on executive functions depend on program duration and the executive domain analyzed — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Cognitive subdomains differ in association strength with SiN perception, from r = .18 (crystallized IQ, nonsignificant) to r = .39 (processing speed) — related
• Systematic reviews on regular physical activity and children's cognition reach conflicting conclusions, with math performance the most consistent beneficiary — related
• Physical activity interventions in childhood show no overall benefit for executive functions or academic achievement — related