Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37227500›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of pediatrics2023

Effect of physical activity interventions on children's academic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dong Li, Deng Wang, Jianye Zou, Chenmu Li, Haonan Qian, Jin Yan, Yabin He

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of pediatrics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
20citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

20 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  13. Bullying and Cyberbullying Are Associated with Low Levels of Motivational Beliefs Toward Learning in Youth.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Dong LiDepartment of Physical Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China.
Deng WangLFE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Martín Fierro 7, Madrid, Spain.
Jianye ZouSchool of Health Sciences and Physical Education, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China.
Chenmu LiSchool of Physical Education, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China.
Haonan QianHanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jin YanCentre for Active Living and Learning, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. jin.yan@uon.edu.au.
Yabin HeDepartment of Physical Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, China. 2171039072@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The physical and psychological benefits of physical activity are well established. However, there is no consensus regarding the effects of physical activity on children's academic performance in general and in specific subjects. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to identify forms of physical activity that are suitable for improving the physical activity levels and academic performance of children aged 12 years and under. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Included studies had to meet the following criteria: randomized controlled trials examining the effect of physical activity interventions on children's academic performance. Stata 15.1 software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. A total of 16 studies were included, and the results showed that the "physical activity + academic curriculum" format had a positive effect on children's academic performance. Physical activity had a stronger effect on math performance than on reading and spelling performance (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.30,1.19, P < 0.001).   Conclusion: The impact of physical activity on children's academic performance varies based on the type of physical activity intervention, with "physical activity + academic curriculum" format having a better effect on academic performance. The effect of physical activity interventions on children's academic performance also varies by subject; the effect is strongest for math.    Trial registration: Registration and protocol CRD42022363255. What is Known: • The physical and psychological benefits of physical activity are well established. • Previous meta-analyses have failed to demonstrate the impact of physical activity on the general and subject-specific academic performance of children aged 12 and under. What is New: • The PAAL form of physical activity has a better effect on the academic performance of children aged 12 and under. • The benefit of physical activity also varies by subject, with the greatest effect being observed for math.

Indexed as

Academic PerformanceExerciseChildHumansAcademic achievementChildrenMeta-analysisPhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID37227500

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.