title: The associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and academic performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationships between children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behaviours, and academic performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated cross-sectional relationships between children's accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns, and academic performance using a standardised, nationally-administered academic assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 285 Australian children aged 9-11 years from randomly selected schools undertook 7-day 24h accelerometry to objectively determine their MVPA and sedentary behaviour. In the same year, they completed nationally-administered standardised academic testing (National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy; NAPLAN). BMI was measured, and socio-demographic variables were collected in a parent-reported survey. Relationships between MVPA, sedentary behaviour and academic performance across five domains were examined using Generalised Linear Mixed Models, adjusted for a wide variety of socio-demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher academic performance was strongly and consistently related to higher sedentary time, with significant relationships seen across all five academic domains (range F=4.13, p=0.04 through to F=18.65, p=<0.01). In contrast, higher academic performance was only related to higher MVPA in two academic domains (writing F=5.28, p=0.02, and numeracy F=6.28, p=0.01) and was not related to language, reading and spelling performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings highlight that sedentary behaviour can have positive relationships with non-physical outcomes. Positive relationships between MVPA and literacy and numeracy, as well as the well documented benefits for MVPA on physical and social health, suggest that it holds an important place in children's lives, both in and outside of school.
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: carol.maher@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, USA.
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Dot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dumuid
authors.affiliation: Department for Education and Child Development, Australia.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olds
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D000067010:Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Academic; Physical activity; School; Sedentary