Adolescent health behavior, contentment in school, and academic achievement.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between health behavior indicators, school contentment, and academic achievement.


METHODS
Structural equation modeling with 5810 adolescents.


RESULTS
Our model explained 36% of the variance in academic achievement and 24% in school contentment. BMI and sedentary lifestyle were negatively related to school contentment and academic achievement, but physical activity was positively related to school contentment and academic achievement (P < .01). School contentment was strongly related to academic achievement but only a weak mediator of the health behavior indicators.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings may inform the efforts to improve academic achievement and the general health status of youth.
Reykjavik University, Centre for Social Research and Analysis, School of Health and Education, Reykjavik, Iceland. alfgeir@ru.is
Alfgeir Logi
AL
Kristjánsson
Inga Dóra
ID
Sigfúsdóttir
John P
JP
Allegrante
Asgeir R
AR
Helgason
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012572:School Health Services; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires