Comparison of Academic Performance of High School Students Among Athletes and Non-Athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18058541Keywords:
Academic Performance, High School Athletes, Comparative Study, Athletes, Non-Athletes, Sports Participation, Physical HealthAbstract
Athletic participation is an essential component of school life among adolescents who often manage academic responsibilities alongside sports, resulting in varied outcomes. This study aimed to compare the academic performance of high school athletes and non-athletes and investigated whether different demographic and sports-related factors influence their academic performance. A comparative cross-sectional study design was employed. A non-probability quota sampling technique was used to recruit 30 high school athletes and 30 non-athletes from different schools in Jamshoro District. The questionnaire comprised a demographic sheet, questions regarding athletic participation, and a pre-validated tool called the Academic Performance Scale. SPSS statistical tests included Descriptive Statistics, Independent sample t-test, Analysis of Variance, and Pearson’s Correlation (p ≤ 0.05). Out of 60 participants, more than 85% were males, and 53% were between 14 and 16 years of age. Eleven out of thirty athletes were interschool players. Findings revealed that athletes had significantly better academic performance compared to non-athletes with t (58) = 2.38, p = .021. Moreover, students studying in grade 11th or 12th significantly outperformed academically than 9th or 10th grade students with F (3, 56) = 15.41, p < .001. Athletes involved in sports for 1-2 years also had significantly better academic performance than athletes with less than one year of experience with F (3, 26) = 4.80, p < .01. Lastly, the number of absences from school had a weak negative correlation with academic performance (r = -.29, p = .024). Academic performance was not found to be significantly different based on participants’ gender, number of athletic activities, weekly playing hours, and highest competition level. Based on the results, educational institutions should consider how athletic participation can be purposefully integrated to foster holistic student development beyond the classroom.
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