Jeannette R. Ickovics|Amy Carroll?Scott|Susan Peters|Marlene B. Schwartz|Kathryn Gilstad?Hayden|Catherine McCaslin
Health and Academic Achievement: Cumulative Effects of Health Assets on Standardized Test Scores Among Urban Youth in the United States
Community Health Alliance
abstract background institute medicine 2012 concluded must strengthen schools heart health intervene better outcomes health academic achievement identifying factors impact children essential study objectives 1 document associations health assets academic achievement 2 examine cumulative effects assets academic achievement methods participants include 940 students grades 5 6 12 schools randomly selected urban district data include physical assessments fitness testing surveys district records fourteen health indicators gathered including physical health eg body mass index bmi health behaviors eg meeting recommendations fruitvegetable consumption family environment eg family meals psychological wellbeing eg sleep quality data collected 36 months prior standardized testing results average students reported 71 health assets 14 health assets likely goal standardized tests readingwritingmathematics students health assets 22 times likely achieve goal compared students fewest health assets p lt 001 conclusions schools utilize nontraditional instructional strategies improve student health may also improve academic achievement closing equity gaps health academic achievement