School-based physical activity programs significantly improve mathematics achievement in children and adolescents (SMD = 0.11)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r3 · q3 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

Reading the evidence codes

q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.

This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.

q3 i1 Meta-analysis of 13 studies shows a small but statistically significant positive effect of school-based physical activity on mathematics achievement (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04–0.18, p = 0.001). → He Hongxue 2025

Evidence¶

He Hongxue 2025¶

He Hongxue, Yang Yahui, Sun Jiaojiao, Wang Fang, Zhang Wei and Zhu Fengshu. (2025). Effects of school-based physical activity on academic achievement in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1651883

q3 · i1 · quant-synthesis · r3

Systematic review and meta-analysis pooling 13 RCTs on mathematics outcomes using a random-effects model. The pooled estimate was significant: "SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04–0.18, p = 0.001". Moderate heterogeneity (I² = 55%) was reported.

"Figure 3 shows that the combined effect size of 13 studies (25–30, 33–37, 39, 40) was SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04–0.18, p = 0.001, indicating a significant positive impact of physical activity on mathematics achievement."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

Physical Well-Being — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

High-intensity physical activity shows a positive effect on mathematics achievement (SMD = 0.41) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
Moderate-intensity physical activity is positively associated with mathematics and overall academic achievement — related
School-based physical activity significantly improves overall academic achievement (SMD = 0.22) — a broader claim this one bears on
Interventions lasting ≥24 weeks show larger effects on mathematics and overall academic achievement than shorter interventions — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
A significant overall improvement in academic achievement was detected after physical activity programs compared with controls — a broader claim this one bears on
School-based physical activity shows no significant effect on language expression achievement — related

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Field	Value
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:wiki-ingest` on `2026-10-31`
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