Association of physical activity with anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students in Anqing City
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025369
- VernacularTitle:安庆市初中生身体活动与焦虑症状和学业水平的关联
- Author:
ZHANG Jiao, LIU Yuanhang, CHEN Liangtong, ZHANG Jing, YE Rongrong, SHEN Jiaxin,〖JZ〗 CHEN Jiade, LI Hongjuan, GAO Yanhui
1
Author Information
1. School of Basic Medicine and Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Motor activity；Anxiety；Mental health；Compositional data analysis；Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(12):1746-1749
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the association between physical activity, anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students, so as to provide data support for optimizing school physical education and health work and formulating physical activity guidelines.
Methods:From September to December 2022, a convenience cluster sampling method was used to survey 2 800 junior high school students in a middle school from Anqing City, Anhui Province. Data were collected on the students anxiety symptoms, academic performance, 24 hour physical activity [moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity(MVPA), light intensity physical activity(LPA), sedentary behavior(SB), and sleep(SLP) duration] as well as demographic characteristics. Compositional data analysis was used to explore the associations between 24 hour physical activity, anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students, and to predict the optimal time use combination pattern.
Results:Among the junior high school students, 16.0% (447 students) reported anxiety symptoms, and 42.0% (1 175 students) achieved excellent or good academic performance. Compositional data analysis showed that increased SLP duration was associated with both reduced anxiety symptoms ( β =-0.18) and decreased academic performance ( β =-0.03) among junior high school students; increased MVPA duration was correlated with fewer anxiety symptoms ( β =-0.02) and lower academic performance ( β =-0.13); in contrast, increased SB duration was linked to more anxiety symptoms ( β =0.09) and higher academic performance ( β =0.09) (all P <0.01). LPA duration exhibited a non linear relationship with anxiety symptoms and academic performance in junior high school students (all P >0.05). The time use combination pattern corresponding to the lowest anxiety symptoms and highest academic performance (top 5%) in adolescents was 611 (520-640) minutes of SLP, 258 (230-320) minutes of SB, 454 (280-610) minutes of LPA, and 117 (20-200) minutes of MVPA per day.
Conclusions:The 24 hour physical activity of junior high school students is associated with anxiety symptoms and academic performance. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the time spent on SB, MVPA, and LPA for junior high school students, while reducing SB.
