Modeling relationships of achievement motivation and physical fitness with academic performance in Japanese schoolchildren: Moderation by gender

Toru Ishihara; Noriteru Morita; Toshihiro Nakajima; Koichi Okita; Masato Sagawa; Koji Yamatsu

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.04.031

Modeling relationships of achievement motivation and physical fitness with academic performance in Japanese schoolchildren: Moderation by gender

Physiol Behav. 2018 Oct 1:194:66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.04.031. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Authors

Toru Ishihara¹, Noriteru Morita², Toshihiro Nakajima³, Koichi Okita⁴, Masato Sagawa⁵, Koji Yamatsu⁶

Affiliations

¹ Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, Machida, Japan.
² Department of Sport Cultural Studies, Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Department of Teachers Training, Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Sport Education, Hokusho University, Ebetsu, Japan.
⁵ Department of Sport Cultural Studies, Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa, Japan.
⁶ Faculty of Education, Saga University, Saga, Japan.

PMID: 29704529
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.04.031

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine, using structural equation modeling, the comprehensive relationships of achievement motivation (self-fulfillment achievement motivation [SFAM] and competitive achievement motivation [CAM]), daily behaviors (exercise habits, screen time, and learning duration), body mass index [BMI], and cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF]) with academic performance among schoolchildren. Three hundred twenty-five schoolchildren (172 males and 153 females; 12-13 years old) were recruited. Academic performance was assessed using the total grade points in 8 academic subjects (GP8); CRF using the 20-m shuttle run; and achievement motivation, daily behaviors, and socioeconomic status using questionnaires. Socioeconomic status was included as a control variable. In males, two cascade associations of achievement motivation to GP8 were detected: (1) SFAM → screen time/learning duration → GP8, and (2) CAM → exercise habit → CRF → GP8 (χ² = 8.72, p = .19, AGFI = .92). In females, two cascade associations were also detected: (1) SFAM → screen time/learning habit → GP8, and (2) exercise habit → BMI² → GP8 (χ² = 6.17, p = .41, AGFI = .93). Our results suggest that greater achievement motivation is associated with academic success via various physiological/behavioral factors, and that these associations differ by gender.

Keywords: Adolescents; Gender specificity; Learning habit; Obesity; Screen time; Structural equation modeling.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Academic Performance / psychology*
Achievement*
Adolescent
Asian People / psychology*
Body Mass Index
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Child
Female
Humans
Latent Class Analysis
Male
Motivation*
Physical Fitness / psychology*
Sex Characteristics
Social Class
Students / psychology*