Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 39 no. 2 (2025)

Cardiovascular Exercise Engagement and Cognitive Constructs on Freshmen’s Performance in Physical Education

Ivy Temonio | Jaffy Glenn Guillena

Discipline: healthcare science (non-specific)

 

Abstract:

This study investigates the influence of cardiovascular exercise engagement and cognitive constructs on the academic performance of freshmen students in Physical Education. A total of 338 first-year college students were selected using proportionate stratified sampling to ensure representation across academic programs. Data were collected through a validated researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. The results revealed that students had a moderately high level of engagement in cardiovascular exercises, with aerobic exercises (M = 3.49, SD = 0.857) slightly higher than anaerobic exercises (M = 3.21, SD = 0.941). Cognitive constructs such as decision-making (M = 3.77, SD = 0.829) and memory systems (M = 3.55, SD = 0.813) were rated high, while overall student performance in Physical Education was outstanding (M = 1.38, SD = 0.37). Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between decision-making and performance (r = -0.107, p = 0.049), while other variables showed no significant correlation. Multiple regression analysis identified language processing abilities as a significant predictor of performance in Physical Education (β = 0.142, p = 0.034), accounting for 3% of the variance (R² = 0.030, F = 1.72, p = 0.114). These findings suggest that while physical activity supports overall well-being, language-related cognitive skills have a more direct impact on academic performance in PE. These findings suggest that while physical activity supports overall well-being, language-related cognitive skills have a more direct impact on academic performance in PE.



References:

  1. Aberg, M. A., Pedersen, N. L., & Torén, K. (2020). Cardiovascular fitness and cognitive function in older adults: A systematic review. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 28(4), 567–580. https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2020-0132
  2. Ahinful, F. O., Asamoah, C. O., & Akuoko, K. A. (2019). Factors affecting the academic performance of accounting students in Ghana. International Journal of Educational Development, 45, 45-56.
  3. Anderson, C., Black, L., & Green, P. (2022). Cardiovascular exercise and academic performance: The mediating role of cognitive function and stress. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(3), 456–470.
  4. American College of Sports Medicine. (2018). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
  5. American Heart Association. (2023). Physical activity and your heart. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/getting-active/aerobic-exercise
  6. Bailey, R. (2020). Physical education and sport in schools: A review of benefits and outcomes. Journal of School Health, 90(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12839
  7. Beatson, A., Hinton, A., & Scott, B. (2019). The role of personality and parental style in academic performance. Educational Psychology Review, 31(2), 379-396.
  8. Bechara, A. (2018). The role of the prefrontal cortex in decision-making. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 96(6), 1015–1029.
  9. Best, K. (2022). Movement-based learning strategies and cognitive development. Physical Education and Cognition, 9(2), 134–145.
  10. British Educational Research Journal. (2022). Students’ aspirations, expectations and school achievement: What really matters? British Educational Research Journal, 48(2), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3750
  11. Brown, L. (2022). Memory systems and academic achievement: A cognitive psychology perspective. Educational Psychology Review, 34(1), 75–92.
  12. Candrawati, E., Suryani, E., & Wulandari, D. (2016). The effect of aerobic exercise on muscle flexibility and heart endurance. Journal of Physical Education and Sports, 15(2), 45–50.
  13. Clark, A., McGowan, J., & Davis, M. (2018). The cognitive effects of exercise: A systematic review. Neuropsychology Review, 28(3), 294–308.
  14. Cortés Pascual, A., García Pérez, J., & Pérez Sánchez, M. (2019). The influence of working memory on academic performance in high school students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 111(4), 640–656. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000370
  15. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
  16. Dapretto, M., Lieberman, M. D., Pfeifer, J. H., & Bookheimer, S. Y. (2021). Emotional context and language processing: Neural correlates of emotionally influenced comprehension. Brain and Language, 218, 104939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2021.104939
  17. De Martino, B., Camerer, C. F., & Adolphs, R. (2020). Emotional influences on decision-making. Nature Neuroscience, 23(4), 473–480.
  18. Dharma, S., Utari, S., & Boy, E. (2019). Recommendations for aerobic training to maintain cardiovascular fitness in adolescents. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 18(3), 123–129.
  19. Diana, R. A., Yonelinas, A. P., & Ranganath, C. (2019). The role of the hippocampus in episodic memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 23(2), 105–117.
  20. Dirgantoro, E. W., Shadiqin, A. R., & Aisyah, S. (2018). The effects of combined interval training on heart endurance in adolescents. International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 13(4), 567–574. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954118771234
  21. Donnelly, J. E., Hillman, C. H., Castelli, D., Etnier, J. L., Lee, S., Tomporowski, P., Lambourne, K., & Szabo-Reed, A. N. (2021). Physical activity, fitness, cognitive function, and academic achievement in children: A systematic review. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48(6), 1197–1222. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000901
  22. Donnelly, J. E., Hillman, C. H., & Castelli, D. (2022). Physical activity and academic achievement: A review of the literature. Journal of School Health, 92(4), 234–241. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13045
  23. Dwicahya, A., & Arjuna, S. (2017). Physical fitness and body composition: A study on adolescents in urban areas.
  24. Erickson, K. I., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Basak, C., Szabo, A., Chaddock, L., ... & Kramer, A. F. (2021). Exercise training increases hippocampal volume and improves memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(10), e2021191118.
  25. Ennis, C. D. (2015). The impact of data-based decision-making on student academic performance in higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 56(5), 421-436.
  26. Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook (7th ed.). Psychology Press.
  27. Feldman, S., Tschannen-Moran, M., & Warren, P. (2016). Adapting to change in higher education: A new look at the factors that influence academic performance. Journal of Higher Education, 87(6), 876-896.
  28. Gathercole, S. E., & Alloway, T. P. (2016). Working memory and academic achievement: The role of cognitive training. Child Development, 87(6), 2072–2085. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12610
  29. Gilar-Corbi, R., Pérez-López, M. A., & Ibarrondo-Dávila, M. (2020). Language processing and academic achievement: The role of verbal reasoning and written expression. Journal of Educational Research, 113(3), 245-257.
  30. Gonzalez, M., Ramirez, J., & Chen, L. (2020). Cardiovascular exercise and cognitive performance in college students: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 17(4), 345–353. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2019-0456
  31. Hanushek, E. A. (2020). The impact of cognitive skills on educational performance: A global analysis. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 42(3), 383–396.
  32. Hagoort, P. (2019). The neurobiology of language beyond single-word processing. Science, 366(6461), 55–58.
  33. Johnson, R., & Lee, T. (2021). The impact of anaerobic exercise on college students’ physical and mental health. Journal of Student Health, 12(3), 198–210.
  34. Hillman, C. H., Pontifex, M. B., & Castelli, D. M. (2020). Physical fitness and academic achievement. Human Kinetics, 8(4), 421–435.
  35. Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263–291.
  36. Kim, H. (2017). The contributions of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to episodic memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 141, 40–47.
  37. Kumbara, H., & Wiratama, F. (2021). Sprint-jog-rest interventions and cardiovascular endurance. International Journal of Sports Training and Fitness, 5(2), 89–97.
  38. Kuperberg, G. R. (2018). Prediction in language comprehension: What is the evidence? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22(9), 722–734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2018.06.002
  39. Levelt, W. J. M., Roelofs, A., & Meyer, A. S. (2018). A theory of lexical access in speech production. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 22(1), 1–75. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X99001776
  40. Li, F., Wang, X., & Zhang, J. (2019). Social influence on decision-making: Behavioral and neural evidence. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 14(1), 41–49.
  41. Marinkovic, K. (2020). Neural dynamics of language comprehension and production. Brain and Language, 202, 104739.
  42. Martinez, L., Evans, D., & Singh, A. (2020). Physical activity and decision-making: An fMRI study. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 32(5), 871–880.
  43. Mather, M., & Carstensen, L. L. (2021). Aging and motivated cognition: The positivity effect in attention and memory. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(3), 236–250.
  44. Mavilidi, M. F., Lubans, D. R., Eather, N., Morgan, P. J., & Riley, N. (2021). Effects of physical activity on academic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 33, 1081–1110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09519-1
  45. McMorris, T., Mielcarz, G., & West, A. (2020). The influence of high-intensity interval training on executive functions in university students. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 42(1), 45-54.
  46. Meyer, B., Lee, H., & Goh, C. (2019). Academic interest and performance in higher education: An analysis of student engagement and outcomes. Educational Psychology Review, 31(3), 585-601.
  47. Miller, S. (2023). Reflective decision-making and academic achievement in university students. Learning and Individual Differences, 97, 102149.
  48. Moscovitch, M., & Nadel, L. (2020). The self and memory: Emerging perspectives. Memory, 28(3), 321–332.
  49. Nottbusch, G., Weingarten, R., & Sahel, S. (2021). Working memory and sentence processing: Evidence from eye-tracking and comprehension tasks. Journal of Memory and Language, 121, 104301.
  50. Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). Routledge.
  51. Papageorgiou, A., & Callaghan, A. (2018). The importance of communication technology in enhancing accounting education. International Journal of Accounting Education, 26(4), 380-392.
  52. Patel, N., & Kumar, R. (2022). Physical exercise and creative problem-solving in college students. Creativity Research Journal, 34(2), 159–170.
  53. Patel, N., Thompson, H., & Kim, Y. (2024). Mental resilience and anaerobic exercise: A study among students. Journal of Health Psychology, 29(1), 45–60.
  54. Paradis, M. (2019). The neurolinguistic theory of bilingualism. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  55. Pérez-López, M. A., & Ibarrondo-Dávila, M. (2020). Learning methods and academic performance in the accounting discipline. Journal of Business Education, 63(3), 121-139.
  56. Rai, M., Jain, S., & Kaushik, R. (2015). Impact of aerobic training on cardiovascular fitness in sedentary college students. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 59(3), 254–259.
  57. Risen, J. L., & Gilovich, T. (2018). The influence of cognitive biases on decision-making under uncertainty. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 41, e152.
  58. Ross, R., Hudson, R., Day, A. G., Lam, M., & Janssen, I. (2015). Effects of exercise amount and intensity on abdominal obesity and glucose tolerance in obese adults: A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(5), 325–334.
  59. Schwabe, L., & Wolf, O. T. (2019). Stress and memory: Mechanisms and consequences. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 26, 1–6.
  60. Sadeghi, N., Jafari, N., & Khosravi, S. (2020). Physical activity and stress reduction in university students. Journal of Physical Education and Health, 21(2), 45-53.
  61. Sibley, B. A., & Etnier, J. L. (2019). The impact of anaerobic exercise on cognitive function in young adults: A meta-analysis. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8(4), 284-292.
  62. Smith, A. L., Thompson, R. J., & Moore, D. R. (2023). The influence of aerobic exercise on cognitive and emotional outcomes in undergraduate students. Journal of College Student Development, 64(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2023.0001
  63. Steinhauser, M., & Hübner, R. (2020). Dynamic decision-making and adaptive strategies. Cognitive Psychology, 116, 101248.
  64. Thompson, H. (2023). Memory training and academic performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Educational Psychology, 115(4), 612–629.
  65. Thompson, H., Lee, J., & Roberts, S. (2021). Exercise and language processing: Cognitive benefits of aerobic fitness. Brain Sciences, 11(6), 743.
  66. Wang, M. T., & Degol, J. L. (2021). The role of motivation, self-efficacy, and cognitive engagement in academic achievement: A comprehensive review and future directions. Educational Psychologist, 56(3), 132–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2021.1932153
  67. Wang, Z., Li, J., & Zhang, T. (2019). Long-term effects of resistance training on academic performance in university students. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 18(3), 157–166.
  68. Xie, C., Li, R., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Cognitive load and impulsive decision-making. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 150(4), 678–691.
  69. Zhang, H., Liu, Y., Chen, Z., & Wu, X. (2023). Effects of long-term aerobic exercise on cardiovascular disease risk: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 33, 102195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102195.
  70. Zhang, M., & Zhou, Z. (2019). Effects of physical activity on decision-making and attention. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 45(3), 528–542.

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic