Flinders Uni HLTH 3105: PA's Interrelation with Academic Performance

This background literature review, submitted by Pushpinder Singh for HLTH 3105 at Flinders University, explores the interrelation between physical activity (PA) and academic performance among university students. The review highlights the negative health outcomes associated with physical inactivity, referencing statistics on disease burden and PA guidelines. It introduces the Social Ecological and Cognitive theories to understand the relationship between PA and academic performance, discussing existing research that supports the positive impact of PA on learning and cognitive function. The study aims to address gaps in the literature by focusing on university students and examining the impact of PA on academic performance, considering duration, intensity, and potential negative effects of over-exercise. The research question investigates the interrelation between PA and academic performance worldwide, with three hypotheses addressing the positive, modifying, and potentially negative impacts of PA. The review identifies limitations in previous studies, such as a lack of focus on university students and the absence of an agreed definition of good academic performance. The analysis is based on a critical review of peer-reviewed articles and the inclusion of quantitative and qualitative data. This assignment was submitted late and received a mark of 4/10.