The role of physical fitness in academic achievement

Despite the research indicating a direct relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement, physical fitness levels of students are decreasing in many schools, along with opportunities for physical fitness. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement, as measured by the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test scores and academic averages in the areas of reading and math. Achievement goal theory provided the framework for the study. The study took place in a private day school in southern U.S. states. The sample included 60 fifth grade students. To examine the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement for the sample, the independent variable was the students' fitness levels as determined by the President's Challenge Physical Fitness Test, while the dependent variable was students' academic averages in reading and math. Pearson correlational analysis revealed non-significant relationships between physical fitness and reading and physical fitness and mathematics. The non-significant findings may have been related to the small sample size and limited time frame for analysis. This study contributes to social change by identifying the link that exists in some school settings between fitness and achievement, presenting the importance of youth fitness, and challenging the elimination of fitness programs in schools.