Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity, Performance-Related Health, and Academic Achievements in 11-to-13-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Qatar
Author | Hermassi, Souhail |
Author | Ketelhut, Sascha |
Author | Konukman, Ferman |
Author | Sellami, Maha |
Author | Al-Marri, Senaid |
Author | Nigg, Claudio R. |
Author | Schwesig, René |
Available date | 2024-05-05T08:58:54Z |
Publication Date | 2024 |
Publication Name | Healthcare (Switzerland) |
Resource | Scopus |
Identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050588 |
ISSN | 22279032 |
Abstract | Age-related differences in physical activity (PA), maturity status (PHV), physical performance (PP), and academic achievement (AA) among schoolchildren in Qatar were examined. Sixty-nine students from a school in Doha were categorized into three equal (n = 23) groups: 11-year-old students (U11; male: n = 14), 12-year-old students (U12: male: n = 7), and 13-year-old students (U13: male: n = 11). The testing process comprised a medicine ball throw, Stork balance test, hand grip strength test, the T-half test (PP), GPA in Arabic, mathematics, science (AA), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (PA), and Moore's equations (PHV). Relevant age-related differences (p < 0.001) were identified in mathematics, science, the T-half test, maturity, and arm span. Notably, differences between adjacent age groups were evident between U11 and U12, concerning arm span, maturity, mathematics, and science, and between U12 and U13 (the T-half test, mathematics, science). Concerning AP, the performance maxima were calculated for U12 (mathematics, science) and U11 (Arabic). Regarding PP, performance maxima were only observed for U13. Except for the moderate level, the highest levels of PA were detected in U13. Maturity status and anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between age groups. However, AA demonstrated the most notable age-related differences. Specifically, mathematics showed substantial differences between adjacent age groups. |
Sponsor | Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the "The Ministry of Education and Higher Education Qatar" for their administrative support. Special thanks are extended to the school and the PE teachers for their assistance throughout the study. Furthermore, we acknowledge the financial support of the Open Access Publication Fund of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. Funding: This research was funded by Qatar University, grant number QUCG-CED-22/23-522 (Collaborative Grant). The findings presented in this work are solely the responsibility of the authors. |
Language | en |
Publisher | MDPI |
Subject | academic performance anthropometrics body mass index obesity overweight |
Type | Article |
Issue Number | 5 |
Volume Number | 12 |
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Physical Education [84 items ]