Date of Award
Fall 12-2015
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Curriculum & Instruction
Department
Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations
Major Professor
Dr. Richard Speaker
Second Advisor
Dr. Marc Bonis
Third Advisor
Dr. Patricia Austin
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Ann O'Hanlon
Abstract
This research project intended to explore the possible relationship between physical activity and academic achievement in college students. Using an anonymous online survey, data was collected over two semesters. Ten thousand currently-enrolled college students ages eighteen and older from all states and recognized territories of the United States participated. The survey gathered data concerning a student’s age, gender, race, body weight, height, geographic region of college attendance, cumulative GPA, and physical activity level. The FIT Index of Kasari was used to classify each student’s physical activity level. A quintile split by FIT score was conducted to determine if physically active students were more successful academically than their inactive peers. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent sample t-Test, and descriptive analysis were conducted on data pertaining to secondary research questions regarding FIT scores of students in each geographical region of college attendance, gender and race. The research found no statistically significant correlation existed between academic achievement and physical activity in college students. It found that students with very low and very high physical activity levels had lower academic achievement scores than students reporting moderate physical activity. There were significant differences in FIT scores of students in the northwest, but not among students in the southwest, northeast, or southeast. Significant differences in FIT scores were found to exist between males and females and between white and non-white college students. The research found a number of significant differences between groups within the quintile split of FIT score data regarding the primary research question.
Recommended Citation
Meacham, Jared T., "Are Physically Active College Students More Successful Academically Than Their Inactive Peers?" (2015). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2099.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2099
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.