Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine the difference between attention deficit (AD) and academic success (AS) of children who enrolled in sports activities and those who did not. A total of 920 voluntary subjects aged between 10 and 14 years (506 who participate in sports activities and 414 who do not) participated in the study. The children’s mathematics, Turkish language and science courses grades were assessed at the end of the year and through AD's D2 attention test. Children's attention level was classified as poor, mediocre, normal and good according to TN-E score. Independent t test (p<0.05) was used to determine the difference between AS and AD parameters of the children who participate in sports and those who do not, and Chi-square test was used in the analysis of categorical data. According to the results, it was determined that in the categorization of ADs, the number of the children with higher attention level and who participate in sports activities was higher as compared to those who do participate (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that the AS (Mathematics, Turkish, Science) of the children who participated in sports was significantly higher than those who do not  (p<0.05). As a result, it appears that not only does sport play a significant role in children's health and physical development, it is also important for the improvement of AS and the AD.

Key words: Children, attention deficit test (D2), attention, academic success.