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Associations between participation in a Physical Activity-Based Positive Youth Development Program and Academic
Lindley McDavid1, Meghan H McDonough2, Janet B Wong2
1Evaluation and Learning Research Center, Purdue University, USA.
Physical activity-based positive youth development (PYD) programs showed improved math scores and attendance for youth. However, PYD programs need specific academic skill nurturing for consistent impact on overall school success.
Area of Science:
- Youth Development
- Educational Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Physical activity-based positive youth development (PYD) programs aim to enhance overall youth well-being.
- These programs have the potential to positively influence academic success, but require rigorous investigation.
- The impact of PYD programs on school outcomes needs further examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of a physical activity-based PYD program on school outcomes in children.
- To compare academic performance and behavior between PYD participants and non-participants.
Main Methods:
- Propensity score matching was used to compare 149 pairs of students (ages 7-12) in a PYD program versus a control group.
- Ordinal and logistic regression models analyzed differences in standardized math and language arts scores, attendance, and disciplinary actions.
- The study controlled for demographic factors and school district.
Main Results:
- PYD program participants demonstrated significantly higher odds of being in the highest math score category (55% increase).
- Participants also showed significantly greater odds for total days attended (46% increase).
- No significant differences were found in language arts scores or disciplinary actions.
Conclusions:
- Participation in a physical activity-based PYD program positively influenced specific academic outcomes, namely math scores and attendance.
- PYD programs may require targeted design to explicitly foster academic skills for broader academic impact.
- Future research should explore program design modifications to enhance academic benefits.
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