The Impact of Physical Exercise on Adolescent Academic Performance: An Empirical Analysis Based on the China Education Panel Survey 2014-2015

Abstract

Due to the traditional idea of “academic development outweighing physical activity” and the public misunderstanding of the effect of physical exercise on student academic performance, physical exercise is typically given the lowest priority in Chinese educational system. This has substantially restricted the time allotted to physical activity in teenagers, posing a negative impact on adolescent physical and mental health. This article is a systematic analysis of the influence of physical exercise on teenager academic achievement and the potential influence mechanism, based on data from the China Education Panel Survey 2014-2015.