Association between patterns of sedentary time and academic performance in adolescents: the mediating role of self-concept

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between the pattern of sedentary time (bouts and breaks) with academic performance, with an emphasis on the mediating role of self-concept. METHODS: Participants in the cross-sectional study were 394 adolescents (208 girls), aged 10–14 years, from sixth grade from Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. The sedentary time pattern was measured through accelerometry. Definitions: sedentary bouts — uninterrupted periods of sedentary behavior; breaks — non-sedentary period between two sedentary bouts. The self-concept was estimated using the Piers-Harris II Inventory. Academic performance was obtained by school grades. RESULTS: Short sedentary bouts were associated with higher academic performance in boys (1–4 minutes: β=0.035, p=0.007) and girls (1–4 minutes: β=0.031, p=0.014; 5–14 minutes: β=0.054, p=0.001). Long bouts (30 minutes) were associated with lower academic performance in boys (β=-0.023; p=0.011) and girls (β=-0.032; p<0.001). For girls, total and intellectual self-concept mediated the association between all sedentary pattern and academic performance (bouts 1–4 minutes [total: 39% and intellectual: 42.8%]; bouts 5–14 minutes [total: 21.5% and intellectual: 35.4%]; bouts ≥30 minutes [total: 22.6% and intellectual: 32.3%]; and breaks [total: 38.9% and intellectual: 40.7%]). For boys, the total (56.4%) and intellectual (82.9%) self-concept mediated only the association between bouts of 5–14 minute and academic performance. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of sedentary time is associated with academic performance in adolescents and this association is mediated by self-concept, especially in girls.