A gender difference and correlational study of physical fitness, academic achievement and intellectual performance in elementary schoolchildren

• Main Authors: Ming-Chuan Li, 李明娟
• Other Authors: Lee-Hwa Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/20266816550865066385

碩士 === 國立體育大學 === 運動保健學系碩士班 === 101 === This study aimed to investigate the gender differences in, and relationships of physical fitness and academic achievement, and intellectual performance in elementary schoolchildren. Subjects were 4th graded students from one elementary school in Taoyuan City. Data collected were fitness test scores, midterm and final term written test scores, including Mandarin, Mathematics, Science and Technology, and Social Studies, Test of Nonverbal Intelligence score, and finally family background information. Descriptive statistics, independent t tests, partial correlation were used to analyze the data. The study results showed that: (1) Gender differences were found in some fitness tests with flexibility performed better in girls, whereas explosive power scored better in boys. (2) Based on different gender, fitness test scores correlated with academic achievement performances differently. Overall, schoolchildren who did better in fitness tests performed better in academic achievement. Gender-specific advantaged fitness performances had better correlation with academic performances within that precise gender, and the relationships were stronger in girls. (3) In girls, flexibility was correlated with all four subjects. (4) In boys, test score in cardiorespiratory fitness was correlated with Mandarin, Science and Technology, and Social Studies; explosive power was correlated with Science and Technology, and Social Studies; muscular fitness was correlated with Science and Technology; and flexibility was correlated with Social Studies. Based on the findings, it is recommended that educators and parents should notice gender differences in curriculum planning and activities arrangements to a well-balanced fitness development in schoolchildren of different gender. Provision of opportunities to various type of exercise and increase physical activity may be helpful to improve performances in learning.