Effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement,psychosocial functioning,and physical fitness:A multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial

Purpose:To examine the effects of a school-based karate intervention on academic achievement,psychosocial functioning,and physical fitness in children aged 7-8 years.Methods:Twenty schools in 5 different European countries(2 second-grade classrooms per school)participated in a cluster randomized controlled trial(Sport at School trial).Participants were assigned to either a control group,which continued with their habitual physical education lessons,or to an intervention group,which replaced these lessons with a 1-year karate intervention(Karate Mind and Movement program).A total of 721 children(344 girls and 377 boys,7.4±0.5 years old,mean±SD)completed the study,of which 333 and 388 were assigned to the control group and intervention group,respectively.Outcomes included academic performance(average grade),psychosocial functioning(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents),and different markers of physical fitness(cardiorespiratory fitness,balance,and flexibility).Results:The intervention provided small but significant benefits compared to the control group for academic achievement(d=0.16;p=0.003),conduct problems(d=-0.28;p=0.003),cardiorespiratory fitness(d=0.36;p<0.001),and balance(d=0.24;p=0.015).There was a trend towards significant benefits for flexibility(d=0.24;p=0.056).No significant benefits were observed for other variables,including psychosocial difficulties,emotional symptoms,hyperactivity/inattention,peer problems,or prosocial behaviour(all p>0.05).Conclusion:A 1-year school-based karate intervention was effective in improving academic achievement,conduct problems,and physical fitness in primary school children.The results support the inclusion of karate during physical education lessons.

The Impact of Sleep Patterns on Academic Performance and Social Integration among Medical Students

Introduction: The impact of sleep on student life is crucial, particularly for those in demanding fields such as medicine. This study examines the relationships between sleep patterns, academic performance, and social integration among medical students, who often face irregular sleep cycles and sleep deprivation due to rigorous academic demands. Aim: This study aims to assess how sleep issues affect academic achievement and social relationships among medical students. Method: Data were collected from 215 medical students through surveys and academic records. Quantitative data provided insights into sleep quality and academic performance, while qualitative interviews explored the effects of sleep on social interactions. Results: The findings revealed a significant correlation between sleep quality and academic performance, with students reporting better sleep hygiene achieving higher grades. Qualitative data indicated that poor sleep negatively impacts social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and reduced social participation. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of promoting good sleep practices in medical schools to enhance academic success and social well-being. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality may help reduce burnout and improve overall well-being among medical students. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of sleep on academic and social outcomes in this population.

Video Games and School Performances of Dakar High School Students

The triptych (Smartphones, Video games, adolescents) has imposed itself on the collective consciousness in the form of questioning to the point of becoming a social phenomenon. It thus raises concerns about the uses that adolescents make of it and the effects on their academic performance, which we proposed to study among middle school students from the Dakar academy inspection. Where appropriate, we used mixed methods with the collection techniques of questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews respectively with middle school students, adults (parents, supervisors, teachers, etc.), participant observation and literature review. Concretely, before accessibility to video games, the middle school students were more idle and well-behaved, watched a lot of TV, played with their brothers and sisters or did household chores. The majority of young people had good, very good or excellent conduct and their averages were fair, fairly good or good. With access to a diverse digital environment, middle school students have passionately turned to video games. As a result, their learning time, concentration and submission to parental injunctions have declined significantly. This situation negatively affected their academic performance and encouraged bad behavior.

Meeting 24-h Movement Guidelines is Related to Better Academic Achievement:Findings from the YRBS 2019 Cycle

This research is designed to investigate the relationship between the 24-h movement guidelines(24-HMG)and self-reported academic achievement(AA)using nationally representative data derived from the 2019 U.S.National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey.A multiple-stage cluster sampling procedure has been adopted to ensure a representative sample(N=9127 adolescents;mean age=15.7 years old;male%=49.8%).Logistic regression has been adopted to obtain the odds ratio(OR)regarding the associations between adherence to 24-HMG and AA while controlling for ethnicity,body mass index,sex and age.The prevalence of meeting the 24-h movement guidelines in isolation and combination varied greatly(physical activity=23.3%,screen time=32.5%,sleep=22.3%,and 24-HMG=2.8%),while the percentage of highest-class AA was 42.5%.Compared with the situation when none of 24-HMG is met,the achievement of any of the combined guidelines(except for meeting the physical activity guidelines)was significantly associated with higher odds of achieving first-class AA.Meeting the sleep guideline had 1.42 times increased likelihood to achieve highest-class AA as compared with not meeting the sleep guideline.Meeting screen time guidelines and physical activity guidelines,respectively,were 1.32 and 1.13 times more likely to report first-class AA;but meeting the guidelines of physical activity was not significantly related to AA.Meeting the 24-HMG had the highest odds of achieving first-class AA(OR=2.01,95%CI:1.47-2.73).In both sexes,adolescents who met 24-HMG self-reported better AA(boys OR=2.05,95%CI:1.34-3.15;girls OR=2.26,95%CI:1.36-3.76).Significant relationships were observed in adolescents from 9-10th grade,but not higher grades.Our research findings suggest that optimal movement behaviours can be seen as an important element to better academic achievement among U.S.adolescents.Future studies can adopt our discoveries to promote adolescents’academic achievement through implementing optimal 24-h movement behaviour patterns.

Parental Migration and the Academic Performance of Left-behind Children——Evidence from a Two-wave Panel Dataset of 10 Thousand Students in 5 Provinces in China

Since the 1990s, the large-scale migrant labor force from rural to urban areas has made great contributions to the growth in China. However, migration does not come without costs. The potential impacts of parental migration on the left-behind children have aroused wide concerns. Based on a two-wave panel dataset of nearly 10 thousand students in 166 schools from 13 counties in 5 provinces between 2014 and 2015, differences-in-differences （DID） and propensity score matching plus DID （PSMDID） approaches were used to examine the changes in academic performances before and after the parental out-migration. The results indicated that the mother only migration has a significant negative impact on the a- cademic performances of left-behind children, and it was especially true when the mother only migration lasted more than a semester. For left-behind children whose parents were out or only the father was out, their academic performances were not affected.

Effect of Mental Health Problems on Academic Performance among University Students in Pakistan

Scientific interest in student’s mental health experiences has been increasing in the last years due to their influence on students’learning processes,academic performance,and recently,the suicidal news of a student at a private university due to her mental health condition in Lahore Punjab,Pakistan,captured public attention.That incident also shifted researchers and scholars’attention on the much underexplored and tabooed sphere of the broader public health domain.Hence,the current study aimed to explore the relationship between mental health problems and Pakistani university students’academic performance.Participants were 540 senior semester students within the age range of 20–35 years taken from public and private institutes of Pakistan’s major cities,including Lahore,Islamabad,and Peshawar.Descriptive and inferential statistics was employed for data analysis.Pearson Product Moment Correlation,Hierarchical Regression analysis,and Independent sample t-test were used for data analysis in inferential statistics.The results of the study reveal that there is a strong positive association between mental health and improvement in academic performance.Mental health problems negatively affect the academic performance of university students.The findings of the current study were beneficial for shedding light on the ignorant area within the broader public health domain;the results are also helpful in raising awareness for not only students but also the parents and university administration to plan and design effective intervention strategies to provide proper mental health that resultantly promote academic excellence.

Mediators of Parental Status （Single or Both Parenting） and Academic Performance of Primary School Pupils in Ghana

This multivariate study investigated whether Parental Support, Teacher Support, and Academic Motivation mediate the relationship between Parental Status （i.e., children from single or both parents homes） and Academic Performance, The research design used for the study was a cross sectional survey using the quantitative approach. Data set from 250 primary school pupils from the Effutu Municipality were analysed using partial correlation and multiple regression analytical techniques. Among the study findings, that were when the effects of Parental Status were controlled for, Parental Support, Teacher Support, and Academic Motivation still related significantly to Academic Performance. Among the conclusions of the findings are that, whether the child was from a single or both parent home was not important with regard to his or her academic performance but rather it was the quality of support that the child gets from whoever is doing the parenting, teacher support and the child＇s own academic motivation that were important to determine the child＇s Academic Performance. The study also found that Parental Support was the best predictor of the pupils＇ Academic Performance out of the three factors includingTeacher Support and Academic Motivation.

Associated Factors and Impacts of Social Phobia on Academic Performance among Students from the University of Parakou (UP)

Background: Social phobia disrupts students in their academic career. The aim of this research work was to study this anxious disorder impact on the academic performance among students from the University of Parakou (UP). Study methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study with prospective data collection among 363 students recruited through systematic random sampling from April to June 2015 at the campus of the UP. A questionnaire including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Liebowitz social anxiety intensity evaluation scale and the ASSIST was used for data collection in compliance with recommended ethical principles. Results and Conclusion Social phobia prevalence among students from the campus of University of Parakou was 11. 6% [CI95% = 10. 9 - 21. 2]. Its intensity was moderate (66.7%), medium (23.4%), severe (7.1%) and very severe (4.8%) only among female students. Moreover, gender, rural or urban living environment and field of study were statistically associated with this social phobia which reduced academic performance by 57.1%, among the studied population. However, 42.9% were not influenced in any way. Addiction to alcoholic beverages (23.8%) and anxiolytics (9.5%) were used to overcome the disorder. Although the risk of dependency to these substances was low, adverse effects on their health and socio-professional future were to be taken seriously.

The Relationship between Academic Performance, Achievement Motivation and Career Adaptability of Chinese High School Students

Given the importance of career adaptability to personal career and success,there is growing interest in how to cultivate youth's career adaptability in schools.This study explores the predictors of career adaptability and examines the mediating role of academic performance in the relationship between achievement motivation and career adaptability.Using the survey data of 147 Chinese high school students,a series of regression models find that academic motivation and academic performance have significant effects on career adaptability,as well as its four dimensions namely career concern,career control,career curiosity,and career confidence.Structural equation modeling further shows that achievement motivation can not only directly affect career adaptability,but also indirectly affect career adaptability through academic performance after controlling for the effects of gender,location,parent education,and family social and economic status.Research limitations and practical implications are finally discussed.

Effects of hand clasping and arm folding on academic performance

BACKGROUND：Similar to handedness, hand clasping and arm folding are also lateral preferences. Previous studies showed a variation frequency for hand clasping and arm folding among different populations. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the relationship between patterns of lateral preferences （hand clasping or arm folding） and academic performance of middle school students. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTINGS： Cross-sectional investigation. The data were collected in the Beijing Zhongguancun High School in Beijing in May 2007. Data analysis was performed in the State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University during June to July 2007. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 102 senior-grade students from Beijing Zhongguancun High School, including 58 males and 44 females, were selected for this study. METHODS： Different forms of hand clasping and arm folding were recorded. More specifically, hand clasping was either right-thumb-top or left-thumb-top, and arm folding was either right-arm-top or left-arm-top. Students with congruent preference used right-thumb-top-right-arm-top or left-thumb-top-left-arm-top, and incongruent preference was displayed by right-thumb-top-left-arm-top or left-thumb-top-right-arm-top. Academic performances were collected from midterm exams in six subjects （Chinese, Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology）, with a total points = 100 for each. A three-way （hand clasping, arm folding, and sex） ANOVA was performed to determine the effect on academic performances. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The relationship between hand clasping, arm folding, sex, and academic performance of students. RESULTS： （1） There was no significant difference in distribution frequency between right-thumb-top and left-thumb-top （P 〉 0.05）, or between right-arm-top and left-arm-top （P 〉 0.05）. The distribution frequency difference between boys and girls was not significant for any subtype （P 〉 0.05）. （2） hand clasping had no significant main effect on any of the six subjects （P 〉 0.05）. The right-arm-top students received significantly higher points in Chinese, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, compared with the left-arm-top students （P 〈 0.05）. A significant sexual difference was detected in academic performance in Chinese and English; girls had higher scores than the boys （P 〈 0.05）. The students with congruent preference scored higher in English, compared with those with incongruent preference （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： The arm folding form of lateral preference had a significant effect on academic performance of middle school students, implying that this human laterality index is of great functional importance.

Dynamical Model to Optimize Student’s Academic Performance

Excellent student’s academic performance is the uppermost priority and goal of educators and facilitators.The dubious marginal rate between admission and graduation rates unveils the rates of dropout and withdrawal from school.To improve the academic performance of students,we optimize the performance indices to the dynamics describing the academic performance in the form of nonlinear system ODE.We established the uniform boundedness of the model and the existence and uniqueness result.The independence and interdependence equilibria were found to be locally and globally asymptotically stable.The optimal control analysis was carried out,and lastly,numerical simulation was run to visualize the impact of the performance index in optimizing academic performance.

Multitasking Behavior and Perceptions of Academic Performance in University Business Students in Mexico during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The current study measures the influence of multitasking behavior and self-efficacy for self-regulated learning(SESRL)on perceptions of academic performance and views in university students during the COVID-19 pan-demic in Mexico.264 university students fulfilled an online questionnaire.It was observed that multitasking beha-vior negatively influences SESRL(-0.203),while SESRL showed a positive influence of 0.537 on perceptions of academic performance,and multitasking behavior had an influence of-0.097 on the perception of academic per-formance.Cronbach’s alpha and Average Variance Extracted values were 0.809 and 0.577(multitasking behavior),0.819 and 0.626(SESRL),0.873 and 0.725(perceptions of academic performance),respectively.The results of the bootstrapping test showed that the path coefficients were significant.The study outcomes can support new plans in universities to ensure the best academic outcomes.Our study showed evidence of the COVID-19 impact on education behavior.This study’s novelty is based on using the partial least square structural equation modeling(PLS-SEM)technique to evaluate these variables.

Relationship between Breakfast and Academic Performance of Primary and Middle School Students in Mianyang City

In order to understand the relationship between breakfast frequency and academic performance of grade 5 and grade 8 students, we conducted an investigation through a multistage cluster sampling design with 16,840 students (8017 5th graders and 8823 8th graders) from Mianyang city. Results show that: 1) 71.3% of fifth graders and 59.7% of eighth graders had breakfast every day of the week, and 9.7% of fifth graders and 7.5% of eighth graders had breakfast three times or less per week. 2) The number of times students eat breakfast per week has a significant impact on their comprehensive academic performance, which is reflected in the trend that the more times students eat breakfast, the better their overall academic performance is. Based on this, in order to help students eat breakfast more often, and further improve students’ academic performance, we will strengthen the publicity and education of students’ breakfast knowledge from multiple perspectives.

Instructors’ caring behaviors, burnout, satisfaction, and academic performance of nursing students in online education and the pandemic era

Objective:This study aimed to determine the predictive ability of instructors’online caring behaviors,online learning burnout,and satisfaction with online learning on nursing students’academic performance.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study employing the administration of online self-repor t measures among 606 undergraduate students in one large nursing school in the Philippines.Statistical analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics,Pearson’s r,and linear regression.Results:The mean scores in the instructors’online caring behaviors scale,online learning burnout scale,online learning satisfaction scale,and self-repor ted academic performance were 3.88±0.70,4.00±0.84,2.51±0.96,and 3.25±0.79 respectively.Satisfaction(β=0.216,P=0.000),burnout(β=0.-098,P=0.019),and instructors’caring behaviors(β=0.096,P=0.030)explained 11.7%of the variability in the students’academic performance.Conclusions:Instructors’caring behavior and levels of burnout and satisfaction are linked to students’academic success in the vir tual learning environment.This study calls for nursing instructors to be mindful of signs of burnout,employ proactive measures that promote satisfactory learning,and foster more caring behaviors in this time of global health crisis.

Academic Stress among Nursing Students in a Private University at Puerto Rico, and Its Association with Their Academic Performance

Background: Nursing programs have distinguished themselves for being rigorous. The college experience emerges with new challenges and demands that require adaptation in order to cope with academic stress. Situation that could lead to a non adaptive institutional environment. Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine and analyze possible repercussions of academic stress in nursing students in a Puerto Rican private university and how it affects academic performance in students. Materials and Methods: The selected methodology is a cross-sectional study. The simple random sample was comprised of 168 nursing students who were enrolled in associate degree (29.2%) and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing (70.8%). Data was collected through standardized Academic Stress (CEA, by its acronym in Spanish). Results: The study shows that academic stressors are correlated with the grade point average. In addition, correlation between academic stress and the performance rate was found, especially in terms of the difficulty to approve enrolled credits. Conclusions: Nursing students suffer from stress regardless their academic degree. Academic stress affects academic performance of students despite their use of management strategies.

Unveiling the Pedagogical Potency of Quizlet:Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition and Academic Performance Among Business English Major Students in China

The effectiveness of Quizlet,an online vocabulary learning tool,in enhancing vocabulary acquisition and academic performance among Business English major students in China was investigated in this study.With emphasis on the importance of vocabulary proficiency for English learners,especially those in English-related majors,this research aimed to understand the impact of Quizlet on vocabulary mastery and its connection to overall academic success.A one-academic-year longitudinal experiment was carried out involving two classes,utilizing quantitative methods for assessing vocabulary retention and academic progress.Improvement was seen in the final exam rankings and vocabulary retention rates in Quizlet-engaged classes.Hopefully,this study could provide valuable insights for educators,curriculum designers,and researchers,guiding the optimization of language acquisition strategies in the digital age.

An Empirical Study on the Relationships Between Smartphone Addiction and Student Engagement and Academic Performance of Chinese English Majors

In the past few years, the phenomenon of smartphone addiction has become more serious especially among university students. In order to explore whether smartphone addiction has an impact on students' learning, this study examined the relationships between smartphone addiction and student engagement and academic performance among 157 English majors by One-way ANOVA. Results suggested that there was not any significant difference in student engagement and academic performance among students of different levels of smartphone addiction. The implications for prevention strategies of smartphone addiction and further research are discussed.

The Application of“Problem-Based Learning+Flipped Classroom”Teaching Model in Bilingual Education

This study focuses on the application of the“PBL(problem-based learning)+Flipped Classroom”teaching model in bilingual education,aiming to explore its potential to enhance the quality and effectiveness of bilingual teaching.PBL emphasizes learning through the resolution of real-world problems,while the Flipped Classroom advocates that students acquire basic knowledge through self-study before class,dedicating class time to in-depth discussions and practical activities.The integration of these two teaching models in bilingual education aims to stimulate students’interest in learning,improve their autonomous learning abilities,enhance critical thinking,and foster cross-cultural communication skills.Through literature review,case analysis,and empirical research,this study first examines the current applications and challenges of PBL and the Flipped Classroom in bilingual education.Subsequently,it elaborates on the specific implementation steps of the“PBL+Flipped Classroom”teaching model in bilingual education,including problem design,preview material provision,cooperative learning,classroom activities,and language support.A comparative experiment is then conducted to analyze the impact of this teaching model on students’learning motivation,academic performance,and cross-cultural communication skills.The results indicate that the“PBL+Flipped Classroom”teaching model significantly improves students’learning motivation and participation,enhances academic performance,and effectively boosts their cross-cultural communication skills.Furthermore,this model aids in cultivating students’autonomous learning abilities and critical thinking,providing an innovative and effective approach to bilingual education.This study offers new ideas and insights for the field of bilingual education,which is of great significance for promoting the innovation and development of bilingual teaching models.

Fear of missing out: A brief overview of origin, theoretical underpinnings and relationship with mental health

Fear of missing out(FoMO)is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites.FoMO includes two processes;firstly,perception of missing out,followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections.We are interested in understanding the complex construct of FoMO and its relations to the need to belong and form stable interpersonal relationships.It is associated with a range of negative life experiences and feelings,due to it being considered a problematic attachment to social media.We have provided a general review of the literature and have summarized the findings in relation to mental health,social functioning,sleep,academic performance and productivity,neuro-developmental disorders,and physical well-being.We have also discussed the treatment options available for FoMo based on cognitive behavior therapy.It imperative that new findings on FoMO are communicated to the clinical community as it has diagnostic implications and could be a confounding variable in those who do not respond to treatment as usual.

Determinants of Sleepiness among Pupils in Kanto District of Japan

Backgrounds: Sleepiness is reported to predict sleep quality, academic performance and self-regulation. This study aimed to discover determinants of sleepiness. Methods: On 2722 questionnaires obtained from pupils in grades 5 - 12 in the Kanto district of Japan, lifestyle habits associated with sleepiness were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: The rate of sleepy pupils (who feel sleepy during class as often and always) increased from elementary school (6.3%) to senior high school (42.4%) via junior high school (17.1%). Higher grade (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.28;95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 - 1.37;p < 0.001), later bedtime before school day (OR, 1.41;CI, 1.26 - 1.57;p < 0.001), longer non-school day screen time (OR, 1.27;CI, 1.16 - 1.40;p < 0.001), poor self-reported academic performance (OR, 1.41;CI, 1.24 - 1.60;p < 0.001), skipping breakfast (OR, 1.18;CI, 1.01 - 1.39;p = 0.041), earlier wake time on school day (OR, 0.84;CI, 0.71 - 0.98;p = 0.026), and higher after-school (OR, 1.03;CI, 1.02 - 1.04;p < 0.001) and physical activities (OR, 1.06;CL, 1.03 - 1.10;p < 0.001) were independently associated with sleepy pupils. Conclusions: To reduce adolescents’ sleepiness in the Kanto district of Japan, we recommend them to have adequate waking time, and to avoid late bedtime, breakfast skipping, excessive screen time, after-school activity, and physical activity. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm involvements of these recommended factors in sleepiness and both physical and mental health outcomes.