Health Behavior and Academic Achievement Among Adolescents: The Relative Contribution of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, and Self-Esteem

• Published in: Health Education & Behavior
• Main Authors: Logi Kristjánsson, Álfgeir, Dóra Sigfúsdóttir, Inga, Allegrante, John P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2008
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1090198107313481; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1090198107313481

This study tested a structural equation model to estimate the relationship between health behaviors, body mass index (BMI), and self-esteem and the academic achievement of adolescents. The authors analyzed survey data from the 2000 study of Youth in Iceland , a population-based, cross-sectional sample of 6,346 adolescents in Iceland. The model demonstrated good fit with chi-square of 2685 ( n = 5,810, df = 180), p < .001, Comparative Fit Index value of .94, and a root mean square error of approximation of .049. Lower BMI, physical activity, and good dietary habits were all associated with higher academic achievement; however, health behavior was positively and robustly associated with greater self-esteem. Self-esteem was positively influenced both through physical activity (β = .16) and the consumption of fruits and vegetables (β = .14). In contrast, poor dietary habits negatively influenced self-esteem and academic achievement, and self-esteem was negatively influenced by increasing levels of BMI (β = —.05).