Relationship between physical activity, academic achievement, gender, and learning styles in students of a Latin American Dental School: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the inference that physical activity (PA) may have on academic performance and learning styles of Latin American dental students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, an administrative dataset and a voluntary university characterization provided information about PA and academic performance. Moreover, 218 dental students of the University of Antioquia in Colombia completed a structured questionnaire to identify their learning styles. To analyze the information obtained a Pearson correlation, and logistic and linear regression models were implemented. RESULTS: A total of 131 (60%) students informed being physically active (PA group), and 87 (40%) did not report PA (non-PA group). The results showed a high-grade point average (GPA) in the PA group (P = 0.01). The PA group showed a preference for the theorist and pragmatist learning styles with statistically significant differences between the groups (P = 0.004 and P < 0.0001, respectively). It was also observed a statistically significant Pearson positive correlation between the theorist style and higher GPA (r = 0.15; P = 0.04). The multivariate regression model showed that PA protects against lower means of GPA (odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09–0.7, P = 0.01). Furthermore, the adjusted linear regression models also showed that PA protects against lower means of the theorist (β= −0.15; 95% CI: −0.02 to − 0.002, P = 0.002) and pragmatist styles (β= −0.18; 95% CI: −0.03 to − 0.006, P = 0.0006). Interestingly, men were statistically significant in all multivariable models. DISCUSSION: This study suggests that PA is associated with higher academic performance and the theorist and pragmatist styles. Male students were also more physically active; therefore, it is relevant to establish strategies to stimulate physical activities in dental students, especially in women, including extracurricular activities.