Can active travel enhance educational attainment in school children?

Dr Darshana BhattacharjeePaediatric Registrar (Bristol City Council)

Dr Adrian DavisPublic Health support to City TransportBristol City Council

Purpose of this work

To look at the strength of the evidence regarding the link between physical activity and academic attainment in school pupils.

To facilitate collaboration between Transport Planning and Education teams.

Ultimately to encourage active travel on the school journey.

Background

What do we already know?

The school curriculum is becoming increasingly constrained.

The average child aged 5-17 years does not reach the recommended minimum daily levels of physical activity.

More children travel to school unnecessarily by car.

How is this issue relevant locally?

Mayor’s vision Bristol’s status as European Green

Capital Modeshift STARS programme

Literature review

Research question

Do school aged children between 5 and 18 years (P) who undertake physical activity during the school day (including active travel) (I) compared to those children who undertake no or less physical activity (C) have improved academic performance (O)?

Methods

Rapid review of literature First search- predominantly

biomedical databases 5 studies found.

Second search- sociological databases 60 papers found.

~26 studies identified as relevant 15 studies included in briefing note.

Findings

Summary of systematic reviews (RCTs/cross-sectional studies not

included)

Study Design Study population Results

PA and cognitive outcomes meta-analysis.Fedewa & Ahn 2011

Systematic review- meta- analysis (60 studies)

School aged children 3-18 years

The overall weighted mean effect size was statistically significant, indicating that all PA programmes had a positive and significant impact on children’s cognitive outcomes and academic achievement.

PA, academic performance and cognition in children.Haapala, 2012

Systematic review (9 studies)

School aged children 7-18 years

Single bouts of exercise improved concentration in the intervention group. Cardio-respiratory fitness may be related to more efficient executive control.

Relationships of PA to brain health. Trudeau & Shephard, 2010

Systematic review School aged children

The introduction of sport or PE into the school curriculum has a weak positive association with academic performance. PA in primary schools can be provided without adverse effects on academic achievement.

PA and performance at school. Singh et al 2012.

Systematic review (10 observational and 4 intervention studies)

Children aged 0-18 years

2 high quality studies: (1) adolescent students who participated in a high number of school-based physical activities and more than 5 bouts of MVPA per week were more likely to achieve higher grades (2) elementary school children who took part in an additional 90 minutes of physical activity per week within school had better academic achievement scores.

PA and cognition in adolescents. Esteban-Conejo et al, 2014

Systematic review (20 articles)

Adolescents 13-18 years

Overall, 75% of the studies showed positive associations between physical activity and cognition. One study found that active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys.

Study Design Study population Results

PA and cognitive outcomes meta-analysis.Fedewa & Ahn 2011

Systematic review- meta- analysis (60 studies)

School aged children 3-18 years

The overall weighted mean effect size was statistically significant, indicating that all PA programmes had a positive and significant impact on children’s cognitive outcomes and academic achievement.

PA, academic performance and cognition in children.Haapala, 2012

Systematic review (9 studies)

School aged children 7-18 years

Single bouts of exercise improved concentration in the intervention group. Cardio-respiratory fitness may be related to more efficient executive control.

Relationships of PA to brain health. Trudeau & Shephard, 2010

Systematic review School aged children

The introduction of sport or PE into the school curriculum has a weak positive association with academic performance. PA in primary schools can be provided without adverse effects on academic achievement.

PA and performance at school. Singh et al 2012.

Systematic review (10 observational and 4 intervention studies)

Children aged 0-18 years

2 high quality studies: (1) adolescent students who participated in a high number of school-based physical activities and more than 5 bouts of MVPA per week were more likely to achieve higher grades (2) elementary school children who took part in an additional 90 minutes of physical activity per week within school had better academic achievement scores.

PA and cognition in adolescents. Esteban-Conejo et al, 2014

Systematic review (20 articles)

Adolescents 13-18 years

Overall, 75% of the studies showed positive associations between physical activity and cognition. One study found that active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys.

Study Design Study population Results

PA and cognitive outcomes meta-analysis.Fedewa & Ahn 2011

Systematic review- meta- analysis (60 studies)

School aged children 3-18 years

The overall weighted mean effect size was statistically significant, indicating that all PA programmes had a positive and significant impact on children’s cognitive outcomes and academic achievement.

PA, academic performance and cognition in children.Haapala, 2012

Systematic review (9 studies)

School aged children 7-18 years

Single bouts of exercise improved concentration in the intervention group. Cardio-respiratory fitness may be related to more efficient executive control.

Relationships of PA to brain health. Trudeau & Shephard, 2010

Systematic review School aged children

The introduction of sport or PE into the school curriculum has a weak positive association with academic performance. PA in primary schools can be provided without adverse effects on academic achievement.

PA and performance at school. Singh et al 2012.

Systematic review (10 observational and 4 intervention studies)

Children aged 0-18 years

2 high quality studies: (1) adolescent students who participated in a high number of school-based physical activities and more than 5 bouts of MVPA per week were more likely to achieve higher grades (2) elementary school children who took part in an additional 90 minutes of physical activity per week within school had better academic achievement scores.

PA and cognition in adolescents. Esteban-Conejo et al, 2014

Systematic review (20 articles)

Adolescents 13-18 years

Overall, 75% of the studies showed positive associations between physical activity and cognition. One study found that active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys.

Study Design Study population Results

PA and cognitive outcomes meta-analysis.Fedewa & Ahn 2011

Systematic review- meta- analysis (60 studies)

School aged children 3-18 years

The overall weighted mean effect size was statistically significant, indicating that all PA programmes had a positive and significant impact on children’s cognitive outcomes and academic achievement.

PA, academic performance and cognition in children.Haapala, 2012

Systematic review (9 studies)

School aged children 7-18 years

Single bouts of exercise improved concentration in the intervention group. Cardio-respiratory fitness may be related to more efficient executive control.

Relationships of PA to brain health. Trudeau & Shephard, 2010

Systematic review School aged children

The introduction of sport or PE into the school curriculum has a weak positive association with academic performance. PA in primary schools can be provided without adverse effects on academic achievement.

PA and performance at school. Singh et al 2012.

Systematic review (10 observational and 4 intervention studies)

Children aged 0-18 years

2 high quality studies: (1) adolescent students who participated in a high number of school-based physical activities and more than 5 bouts of MVPA per week were more likely to achieve higher grades (2) elementary school children who took part in an additional 90 minutes of physical activity per week within school had better academic achievement scores.

PA and cognition in adolescents. Esteban-Conejo et al, 2014

Systematic review (20 articles)

Adolescents 13-18 years

Overall, 75% of the studies showed positive associations between physical activity and cognition. One study found that active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys.

Study Design Study population Results

PA and cognitive outcomes meta-analysis.Fedewa & Ahn 2011

Systematic review- meta- analysis (60 studies)

School aged children 3-18 years

The overall weighted mean effect size was statistically significant, indicating that all PA programmes had a positive and significant impact on children’s cognitive outcomes and academic achievement.

PA, academic performance and cognition in children.Haapala, 2012

Systematic review (9 studies)

School aged children 7-18 years

Single bouts of exercise improved concentration in the intervention group. Cardio-respiratory fitness may be related to more efficient executive control.

Relationships of PA to brain health. Trudeau & Shephard, 2010

Systematic review School aged children

The introduction of sport or PE into the school curriculum has a weak positive association with academic performance. PA in primary schools can be provided without adverse effects on academic achievement.

PA and performance at school. Singh et al 2012.

Systematic review (10 observational and 4 intervention studies)

Children aged 0-18 years

2 high quality studies: (1) adolescent students who participated in a high number of school-based physical activities and more than 5 bouts of MVPA per week were more likely to achieve higher grades (2) elementary school children who took part in an additional 90 minutes of physical activity per week within school had better academic achievement scores.

PA and cognition in adolescents. Esteban-Conejo et al, 2014

Systematic review (20 articles)

Adolescents 13-18 years

Overall, 75% of the studies showed positive associations between physical activity and cognition. One study found that active commuting to school was associated with better cognitive performance in girls but not in boys.

Conclusions

The majority of studies reviewed showed a positive association between PA and academic achievement/cognitive performance in school-aged children.

PA and fitness levels in school pupils is associated with better academic scores and improved classroom behaviour.

PA is not detrimental to academic performance.

Limitations

There is variability between how PA is measured (objective vs subjective).

Few studies specifically looked at active travel to school.

Lack of RCTs Ethnicity/social class difficult to

adjust for.

Implications

Raising profile of Bristol schools. Making school travel plans an

integral part of school policy. Enhancement of road safety

messages. Promotion of better health and

academic performance. Providing incentives for schools to

enhance facilities for active travel.

Further Information

“Physical activity through active travel Briefing Note: A best available opportunity for enhancing academic attainment among school pupils?” Dr D Bhattacharjee, February 2015. Darshana.bhattacharjee@nhs.net