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Is adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines associated with greater academic-related outcomes in children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesise the evidence for the association of adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines with academic-related outcomes in children and adolescents. This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, WOS, SPORTDiscus, and EMBASE were searched from their inception to 12 December 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias of included studies. In total, 4326 records were identified through database searches; 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. There were eight cross-sectional studies and two longitudinal studies; the main academic-related outcomes were academic achievement and cognitive function. A small association between adherence to all three recommendations and academic achievement (k = 5, r = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.10–0.24, I2 = 49%) was found compared to those who did not adhere to any recommendations.

   Conclusion: Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis reveal a small association between adherence to all three recommendations and greater academic achievement in children and adolescents. Nevertheless, it is imperative to underscore the need for more studies to establish robust evidence underpinning this relationship.

   Trial registration: PROSPERO (CRD42021295403).

What is Known:

• Regular physical activity, reduced screen time, and optimal sleep duration are independently associated with improved academic-related outcomes in children and adolescents.

• The associations between adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines and academic-related outcomes in children and adolescents have not been quantitatively synthesised.

What is New:

• There is a small but positive association between adherence to all three recommendations of the 24-h movement guidelines and greater academic achievement in children and adolescents.

• Further well-designed research is needed to focus on academic achievement, cognitive function and classroom behaviours in young individuals.

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Data Availability

Data in this systematic review and meta-analysis can be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

RB completed this work thanks to China Scholarship Council (No. 202108310013) and The University of Newcastle.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ran Bao and Huimin Qin contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Ran Bao

  2. Active Living Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia

    Ran Bao

  3. ShanghaiTech Colleges, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China

    Huimin Qin

  4. Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, 8001, Australia

    Aamir Raoof Memon & Sitong Chen

  5. One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, 170503, Ecuador

    José Francisco López-Gil

  6. School of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Shijie Liu

  7. Body-Brain-Mind Laboratory, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China

    Liye Zou

  8. School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China

    Yujun Cai

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  1. Ran Bao
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Contributions

RB: Conceptualization, Literature search and inclusion, Data management and analysis, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-Review and Editing. HQ: Conceptualization, Literature search and inclusion, Data management and analysis, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-Review and Editing. ARM: Methodology, Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-Review and Editing. SC: Methodology, Writing-Review and Editing, Supervision. JFL-G: Writing-original draft preparation, Writing-Review and Editing, Supervision. SL: Methodology, Writing-Review and Editing. LZ: Writing-Review and Editing, Supervision. YC: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing-Review and Editing, Supervision.

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Correspondence to Yujun Cai.

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Bao, R., Qin, H., Memon, A.R. et al. Is adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines associated with greater academic-related outcomes in children and adolescents? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pediatr 183, 2003–2014 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05461-2

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