University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Exploring the longitudinal effects of sleep and physical activity on academic achievement across middle childhood and adolescence

Hoff, Bethany Joy Fleming

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HOFF-THESIS-2018.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101205

Description

Title
Exploring the longitudinal effects of sleep and physical activity on academic achievement across middle childhood and adolescence
Author(s)
Hoff, Bethany Joy Fleming
Issue Date
2018-04-24
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Bub, Kristen L.
Department of Study
Educational Psychology
Discipline
Educational Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2018-09-04T20:36:50Z
Keyword(s)
Achievement, adolescence, physical activity, sleep.
Abstract
Objective: Research has documented normative declines in school motivation and achievement across adolescence. There is some evidence to suggest that engaging in sufficient levels of sleep and physical activity across the transition to middle school might support subsequent achievement. Less is known about the role of pubertal development and sex in the relationship between health behaviors (e.g., sleep and physical activity) in middle childhood and changes in achievement across middle childhood and adolescence. Method: Participants in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were followed from birth through age 15, starting in 1991. Sleep and physical activity were assessed when children were in 6th grade achievement was assessed in 5th grade and again at age 15. Structural equation modeling was used to test associations between sleep, physical activity and directly assessed achievement and child reported academic self-concept across middle childhood and adolescence. Results: Findings suggest that there are long-term effects of sleep, indexed by self-reported general sleep problems, on changes in picture vocabulary skills. Children who report more sleep problems in 6th grade experienced greater declines in picture vocabulary skills across middle childhood and adolescence. Hours of sleep, time spent in physical activity, and time spent in sedentary behavior were not significantly associated with achievement outcomes. Conclusion: Sleep problems in middle childhood appear to have adverse effects on verbal comprehension skills across middle childhood and adolescence. These findings provide some evidence that improving sleep quality in middle childhood may help minimize losses in verbal comprehension and crystallized intelligence across middle childhood and adolescence.
Graduation Semester
2018-05
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101205
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2018 Bethany Hoff

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