Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
The relationship between physical fitness and academic performance among Chinese college students
Xiangyu Zhai1, Mei Ye1, Qian Gu1
1Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Objective:
The present study aimed to examine the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance, after controlling for potential confounds.
Participants:
The sample comprised 2,324 college students representing three Chinese universities.
Methods:
Physical fitness was measured using the Chinese National Student Physical Fitness Standard; academic performance (ie, Grade Point Average) and lifestyle behaviors were assessed using questionnaires. Academic performance and overall physical fitness were used to divide participants into three categories: low, moderate, and high.
Results:
Several physical fitness indicators systematically differed across the three academic performance categories. Additionally, overall physical fitness was positively associated with academic performance, even after controlling for the effects of lifestyle behaviors; those who belonged to the high overall physical fitness group had lower odds ratios of low academic performance than those belonging to the low overall physical fitness group.
Conclusions:
Poor academic performance was related to low overall physical fitness . The probability of having poor academic performance was significantly lower among students with high physical fitness than those with low physical fitness.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Reliability and Validity
Correlations
Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction
Self-Esteem

