Physical Sports vs. Academic Performance: Confrontation or Common Development？

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Balancing Act: Exploring the Interplay Between Sports, Academics, and Educators (Table 37)

Abstract

In the knowledge economy and information age, there is a tendency to prioritize academic learning over physical sports, with concerns that spending excessive time and energy on physical sports may hinder academic performance. Based on previous research, a positive association between physical sports participation and academic performance has been observed, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear in quantitative studies. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate why and how physical sports contribute positively to academic performance, using in-depth interviews with 16 students from prestigious universities in China. The study identified seven themes, including improved access to educational resources, relaxation, enhanced health, personality development, social support, time-management skills, and cognitive development.

Authors

• Jiali Qian, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

• Kun Wang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University