title: The association between physical education and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to examine the association between structured physical activity, specifically physical education, and symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Physical activity may be associated with lower levels of symptoms of ADHD and this rationale provided the impetus for the current study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based, nationally representative sample of children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten cohort (ECLS-K) was used. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the association of physical activity with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Two random subsamples were drawn for the purposes of cross-validation of our model. Statistics reflecting model fit are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a standardized path coefficient value of -.23, findings from the current study indicate a significant, inverse association between physical education, as a structured form of physical activity, with the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a community-based, nationally representative sample of children aged 5 to 7 years old from the United States, the results of the current study suggest that physical education, as a structured form of physical activity, may be considered as associated with lower levels of symptoms of ADHD across time.
authors: Dept of Educational Psychology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Barnard-Brak
authors: Tonya
authors: T
authors: Davis
authors: Tracey
authors: T
authors: Sulak
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Brak
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training