Association between Academic Performance, Physical Activity, and Academic Stress in Compulsory Secondary Education: An Analysis by Sex

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between academic performance, physical activity, and academic stress in secondary education students, while the secondary objective is to establish differences by gender in the physical activity and academic stress levels of secondary students based on academic performance. Methods: The sample was composed of students from both sexes who attended public institutions. Data collection was conducted applying an ad hoc questionnaire for academic performance, the PAQ-C questionnaire for physical activity, and the QASSE questionnaire for academic stress. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics: Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used for associations, while comparisons were conducted via the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. Results: The results show that academic stress is negatively correlated with physical activity and academic performance. Men present significantly higher values in physical activity, while women present higher mean values in general academic stress and the academic overload dimension. Lastly, regarding academic performance, significant differences were observed in the family pressure dimension, with students who perform better academically presenting lower mean values in this dimension of academic stress. Conclusions: In conclusion, the more the general academic stress, the lower the physical activity levels and academic performance. In addition, physical activity appears as a potential coping strategy for academic stress, and its influence on academic performance should be further studied in secondary education.