Do students who engage in regular physical activity perform better in school? Implications for instruction

The present study aimed to investigate the role of physical activity on high school students’ academic performance. To reach this aim, three groups of students compared in this study in terms of academic achievement (Grade Point Average and literature grades), academic motivation and academic procrastination; athletic students, students who do regular physical activity and students who do not do any physical activity. In addition, the correlation between academic motivation and exercise motivation was examined. The study was conducted in six private high schools in Ankara, İzmir and İstanbul, Turkey with the participation of 486 students and 3 teachers. The results of MANOVA revealed that students who do not do any regular physical activity had significantly higher academic GPA (Grade Point Average) and Literature grades than athletic students. In addition, regression analysis revealed that physical activity negatively and academic autonomous motivation positively predicted academic GPA. Furthermore, physical activity and academic autonomous motivation negatively predicted academic procrastination. Bivariate correlation revealed that there is a significant correlation between academic motivation and exercise motivation.