Moving with Thought:physical activity and cognitive functions, academic achievement and psychosocial health in adolescents

Physical activity has been linked to strong positive health benefits and better cognitive functioning, however, nowadays more than 80% of adolescents do not adhere to the recommended guidelines for the amount of physical activity. Previous studies on associations between physical activity and fitness with cognitive functioning, academic achievement and psychosocial health in adolescents and showed mixed findings and inconsistent results. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the relations between physical fitness and cognitive functions, academic achievement and psychosocial health in healthy adolescents. In addition, this thesis aimed to investigate the effects of a physical activity intervention on the same outcomes. Data was gathered in the randomized controlled trial study Move to Improve including 453 adolescents and during a literature review. The results of this thesis showed that skill-related physical fitness was related to specific aspects of cognitive functioning and health-related physical fitness was related to better psychosocial health. Furthermore, the results of the literature review demonstrated that there are positive effects of short-term and long-term physical activity interventions on cognition and academic achievement in adolescents and young adults. However, the results of the Move to Improve intervention showed no impact on cognitive functioning and academic achievement. However, a main interaction effect on reduction of symptoms of depression was found. Finally, we found dose-response effects, indicating that spending more time in MVPA during the physical activity intervention in physical education leads to better psychosocial health and that more cognitively challenging exercises lead to better academic achievement