Associations between meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and academic achievement in Australian primary school-aged children

Few studies have investigated associations between academic achievement and meeting recommendations from the 24-hour (24-h) movement guidelines. The specific guidelines associated with the most benefit academic achievement are unknown. Utilizing both self-report and objective movement data, this study examined associations between academic achievement and meeting individual recommendations and combinations of recommendations from the 24-h movement guidelines (sleep, physical activity, and screen time). Data from CheckPoint, a cross-sectional study nested between Waves 6 and 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, were used. Movement behaviors were measured using 24-h wrist-worn accelerometry (GENEActiv (Activinsights, Kimbolton, UK)) and were self-reported by children using the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents. Academic achievement was measured using a nationally administered standardized test in literacy and numeracy. Analysis of covariance, with t tests with sequential Bonferroni adjustments, was used to compare academic achievement with all possible combinations of meeting recommendations, adjusting for demographic confounders. Two models were considered: guideline compliance assessed by self-report (n = 1270, mean age = 11.99 years, 52% males) and by accelerometry (for moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sleep)) and self-report (screen time) in combination (n = 927, mean age = 11.97 years, 52% males). Literacy achievement significantly differed based on self-report (F(7, 1258) = 3.08, p = 0.003) and accelerometer derived (F(7, 915) = 2.40, p = 0.02) guideline compliance. Numeracy achievement significantly differed based on self-report (F (7, 1258) = 2.92, p = 0.005) but not accelerometer derived guideline compliance (F(7, 915) = 0.80, p = 0.58). When assessed by self-report, children who met all guidelines (t (334) = −4.05, p = 0.0001) or met the screen time and sleep guidelines in combination (t (125) = −5.02, p < 0.001) had superior literacy achievement. Meeting the self-report MVPA guideline in any combination was associated with higher numeracy scores (p < 0.05). Post-hoc analyses showed no differences in academic achievement for any category of accelerometer derived guideline compliance. The findings suggest that limiting recreational screen time is important for literacy achievement and that encouraging compliance with the MVPA guideline is important for numeracy achievement.