PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A FACTOR ENHANCER OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abstract

Raquel Lobo1, Marco Batista1, Sixto Cubo Delgado1

This study aimed to verify if physical activity is related to school performance, self-concept and self-esteem in primary school students, with the multifaceted self-concept, including specific areas. Yet analyzed the level of Body Mass Index as influence of these variables. The sample includes 531 students of which 295 (55.6%) were boys and 236 (44.4%) girls, with an average of 9.13 years belonging to the Portuguese state public education. The methodology was based on the Self-Concept Scale of Susan Harter validated for the Portuguese population (Martins, Peixoto, Mata, & Monteiro, 1995), and the use of the software Statistical Package for a Social Sciences (SPSS). The results show that physical activity and level of appropriate BMI promote a positive evolution in the formation of self-concept and self-esteem, improving academic performance.