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Maternal physical activity before and during the prenatal period and the offspring's academic performance in youth. The UP & DOWN study
Esteban-Cornejo, Irene Martinez-Gomez, David Tejero-González, Carlos Ma Izquierdo-Gomez, Rocio Carbonell-Baeza, Ana Castro-Piñero, José Sallis, James F. Veiga, Oscar L.
Esteban-Cornejo, Irene
Martinez-Gomez, David
Tejero-González, Carlos Ma
Izquierdo-Gomez, Rocio
Carbonell-Baeza, Ana
Castro-Piñero, José
Sallis, James F.
Veiga, Oscar L.
Abstract
Objective: To examine the association of maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy with academic performance in youth. Methods: This study included 1868 youth (6–18 years) and their mothers. Mothers recalled their physical activity before and during pregnancy. Mothers were categorized into four groups: “remained active”, “became inactive”, “became active” and “remained inactive”. Academic performance was assessed through school records. Results: Boys whose mothers practiced physical activity before or during pregnancy had significantly higher scores in academic performance indicators independently of physical activity, fitness, current body mass index (BMI) and birthweight than those whose mothers did not practice physical activity before or during pregnancy (all p < 0.05). In addition, boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in all academic indicators (ranging from +0.358 to +0.543) than boys whose mothers remained inactive. Boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in Language (score +0.546; 95% CI, 0.150–0.940), average of Math and Language (score +0.468; 95% CI, 0.100–0.836) and grade point average (GPA) (score +0.368; 95% CI, 0.092–0.644) than boys whose mothers became active. Conclusions: Maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy may positively influence youth's academic performance. Continuing maternal physical activity practice during pregnancy may have greater benefits for youth's academic performance.
Keywords
academic performance, adolescents, children, maternal physical activity, pregnancy
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine
Book
Volume
29
Issue
9
Page Range
1414-1420
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled