Adolescent health behavior, contentment in school, and academic achievement.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between health behavior indicators, school contentment, and academic achievement. METHODS: Structural equation modeling with 5810 adolescents. RESULTS: Our model explained 36% of the variance in academic achievement and 24% in school contentment. BMI and sedentary lifestyle were negatively related to school contentment and academic achievement, but physical activity was positively related to school contentment and academic achievement (P < .01). School contentment was strongly related to academic achievement but only a weak mediator of the health behavior indicators. CONCLUSION: Findings may inform the efforts to improve academic achievement and the general health status of youth.