Effects of physical activity on executive function and academic achievement in school children

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan University
• Principal Investigator: Tottori Nobuaki 立命館大学, 総合科学技術研究機構, 研究員 (80875948)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 身体活動量 / 座位行動 / 実行機能 / QOL / 媒介分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Specific exercise and sports improve executive function, academic achievement, and quality of life in children, but it remains unclear that the physical activity and sedentary behavior during daily living relates to them. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively examine the effects of physical activity on executive function, academic achievement, and quality of life in school children. The results showed that physical activity in boys was associated with executive function and well-being through the mediation of physical fitness.

Free Research Field

応用健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は身体活動量と健康関連指標との関係の解明を目指した。先行研究では、各関係性について個別に検討されてきた。一方、本研究は媒介分析を用いて、先行研究で明らかとなってきた部分的な結果をまとめる体系的な研究である。これにより身体活動量と実行機能、QOLの因果関係が明確となり、身体活動量の改善による貢献度を詳細に示すことが可能となる。さらに、本研究の成果によって、身体的健康だけでなく脳機能やメンタルヘルスなどの非身体的観点から新たな身体活動量の価値を掲示することが可能となる。