Impact of Physical Activity on Academic Achievement of Secondary Level Students in Kathmandu
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This study aims at exploring the impact of physical activity on the academic achievement of secondary-level students in Kathmandu District, Nepal. Cross-sectional research design was used, and data were collected from 31 students of grade nine and ten studying at Pushpa Kunja High School through structured questionnaires. The results reveal an inverse relationship between physical activity and academic performance. Solo activities like running and walking positively affected academic achievement, while team sports and yoga showed inconsistent trends. A statistically significant negative correlation was also found between the intensity of physical activity and academic performance (r = −0.392, p = 0.029). It means; higher the students' achievement level, lesser the participation in vigorous activities. This would challenge the assumption of a universally positive relationship between physical activity and academic achievement and also highlights the importance of balancing them for good academic achievement. This study, therefore, calls for specific school-based interventions to ensure optimal physical activities for holistic development, considering the unique cultural and infrastructural factors related to Nepal's education system.
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The relationship between physical activity and academic performance is curvilinear, with moderate physical activity associated with optimal academic performance and higher frequency or intensity linked to weaker or inconsistent outcomes.
“Several studies indicated curvilinear relationships, whereby moderate PA was associated with optimal AP, while higher frequency or intensity was linked to weaker outcomes or inconsistent associations.”
From Physical activity and academic performance in adolescents: a systematic review of intensity, frequency, and mediating factors (2026) · cites this paper as Chiluwal et al., 2024
The section on intensity and academic achievement reports a negative correlation among Kathmandu students, which offers some support for weaker outcomes at higher activity levels. It does not establish a curvilinear relationship or identify moderate activity as optimal. The Discussion instead reports that moderate activity did not affect grades in a study it reviews, while intense activity was associated with better grades. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Jee, H. (2026) · Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation · doi:10.12965/jer.2550854.427
- Authors
- Chiluwal, S., Bohara, K., Shahi, S. J., Shrestha, M. L., & Thapa, S. B.
- Affiliations
- Tribhuvan University (NP)
- Far-western University (NP)
- Gandaki University (NP)
- Venue
- Interdisciplinary Research in Education
- Publisher
- Nepal Journals Online (JOL)
- Published
- 2024-12-25
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 109-119
- ISSN
- 2676-1483 (ISSN-L)
- 3021-9574
- OpenAlex
- W4407993600
- Cited by
- 1
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1
- FWCI
- 0.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Interdisciplinary Research in Education (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Recreational Sport and Physical Activity
- Social Sciences › Education › Physical Education and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- physical activity, academic performance, high school students, adolescents, team sports, yoga, running, walking, physical activity intensity, school-based intervention, Kathmandu
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