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The Association Between Vigorous Physical Activity and Grade Point Average in College Students: 1874
... In addition to the health benefits of exercise, engaging in moderate and vigorous exercise regularly has been linked to college students' academic success (Hillman, Erickson, & Kramer, 2008). For example, an investigation that compared college students who studied less than one hour per day to those who studied three or more hours per day found students who studied three or more hours per day were 3.5 times more likely to participate in vigorous exercise (Flynn, Coe, & Ode, 2010 Furthermore, the use of campus recreation facilities for exercise has been linked to higher GPAs (Belch, Gebel, & Maas, 2001). ...
This exploratory study applied constructs of self-determination theory to assess college students exercise motivation and to determine the influence on exercise within active college students. Students included 24 college students (12 normal weight, 12 overweight) currently meeting national exercise recommendations. Surveys and semistructured interviews were used to assess exercise motivation. Descriptive statistics and MANOVA were used to analyze survey results. Horizontalization was used to analyze interview responses. It was found that the majority of students were extrinsically motivated for exercise regardless of BMI or gender. Identified regulation was found to be the most common form of motivation. Extrinsic motivation may be a key determinant for increasing exercise and enhancing utilization of campus recreation facilities among undergraduate students. Future efforts should consider the inclusion of extrinsic motivation (e.g., to look good, improve health) in communication strategies and program development.
Researchers have reported positive associations between physical activity and academic achievement. However, a common belief is that improving academic performance comes at the cost of reducing time for and resources spent on extracurricular activities that encourage physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-reported physical activity and grade point average (GPA) for health science graduate students. Graduate students in health science programs completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and reported their academic progress. Most participants (76%) reported moderate to vigorous physical activity levels that met or exceeded the recommended levels for adults. However, there was no significant correlation between GPA and level of physical activity. Negative findings for this study may be associated with the limited range of GPA scores for graduate students. Future studies need to consider more sensitive measures of cognitive function, as well as the impact of physical activity on occupational balance and health for graduate students in the health fields. [OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health. 2014; 34(3):160-167.].
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