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Thesis of 40 pages for the course Researching Contemporary Management Issues at UoW (Conference Paper)
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Title: How Physical Activity Impacts onStudents’ Academic Performance
Module Code and Title: BS3992 Researching
Contemporary Management Issues
Type: Conference Paper
Word Count: 4,304
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Research Questions and Objectives.......................................................................................................6
Research Design.....................................................................................................................................7
0
,Findings.................................................................................................................................................9
Discussion............................................................................................................................................23
References...........................................................................................................................................29
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the physical activity factors of which impact
on university students academic achievements and physical activity role on well-being as
well as well-being role in organisational background.
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,Methodology: Secondary studies related to the research questions are analysed using
thematic analysis. This is a qualitative paper focusing on an inductive method using non-
experimental design to identify findings from secondary research questionnaires,
interviews, and surveys.
Findings: PA was found to highly influence psychological well-being, improve self-esteem
and reduce the chance for other illnesses, such as anxiety and hopelessness directly.
Physical fitness is found to be a key factor in academic achievements. The greatest
correlation was found to be with aerobic exercise. Exercise has a huge impact on mental
health that is responsible for longevity of a human. Other activities found to both contribute
towards physical and mental health are: running, circuit training and dance, depending on
lifestyle behaviours, social environment and personal attributes. Workplace health
promotion interventions were found to be highly associated with employee well-being and
organisational performance. Different stimulus and programmes were found effective in
improving both health and financial performance of a company.
Research Limitations: The availability of secondary research papers was limited and the
quality of a scientific study not determined. Also, sources dates in the Findings were ranging
between 2008 and 2020, therefore some studies may be questionable in terms of relevance.
Original Value/Contribution: This paper contributes to the greater body of knowledge by
proposing the main PA factors that influence academic abilities and the need for effective
well-being promotions to be implemented. Additionally, this paper aims to fill the gap from
previous studies with the examination of how PA impacts on academic achievements taking
studies further from only describing strengths and weaknesses of PA in relation to academic
achievements.
Introduction
The teaching of fitness began in 370 BC Greece when legendary physician Hippocrates started to
spread ‘the importance of the psychological background to illness, … physical well-being … and a
healthy active lifestyle’ (MacAuley, 1994:32). In 1800, it was taken a step further when Friedrich
Ludwig Jahn implemented a program of outdoor physical education activities for pupils in the
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, secondary schools (Jones and Bartlett, 2015; Tustin, n.d.). However, back then the correlation
between mentality and physicality had not been as closely explored.
The term physical activity (PA) refers to ‘any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that
results in energy expenditure’ (Caspersen et al., 1985:126), whereas academic performance
‘represents performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person has accomplished
specific goals’ (Steinmayr et al., 2014, [online]). According to Pate (1988), traditional definitions of
exercise did not incorporate the health aspect and physical inactivity impact on human body and
brain. Now fitness is a widely researched subject area, concentrating on correlation between
physical and psychological well-being and not only focusing on body ideals but also promoting
intelligence as well as degree of influence between these two variables (Tomporowski et al., 2008
and Kayani et al., 2018). The importance of intellectual achievements, in conjunction with PA has
been analysed in many research papers. However, previous studies are acknowledged by scholars
O’Callaghan et al. (2012) and Pucher (2013) as lacking clear indications of such an extent.
Therefore, at a glance physical health may seem like a completely distinct from that of mental well-
being. However, in theory, the peer-reviewed scientific studies favour a balanced diet and exercise,
as two interconnections which contribute to mental acuity (Pucher, 2013; Wippold et al., 2019). In
practice, various surveys indicate that over a one year period of aerobic exercise participants reduce
the levels of stress and even balance the brain’s neurotransmitters that are responsible for
happiness and energy (Asp, 2014). This is an example of brain-based learning a theoretical
framework which supports ‘moderate to vigorous physical activity’ that enhances cognitive
performance (Mullender-Wijnsma et al., 2015:365). Specifically, students with higher levels of
fitness tend to achieve higher exam results (CDC, 2014). It was found that alternately with academic
learning PA improve the decision-making process, increase attention span and this way boost
academic performance (Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School
Environment, 2013 and Mullender-Wijnsma et al., 2015). Its relationship with PA has been explored
in Tomporowski et al. (2008), Dorfman (2015) and Kayani et al. (2018) studies as positive, in
conjunction with increased self-esteem and decreased anxiety and depression symptoms (Alves-
Martins et al., 2002 and De Mello et al., 2013). However, the reviewed literature suggest that PA has
a primary effect on depression and self-esteem and an indirect effect on academic performance.
More specifically, PA has a positive impact on self-esteem that also has positive impact on academic
performance (Alves-Martins et al., 2002).
One of the most important spheres of PA is yoga. According to its philosophies physical suppleness,
breathing techniques, and diet are fundamentals in the control of a mind and emotions (Mental
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