{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T14:00:42Z","timestamp":1785333642667,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784764800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Academic achievement is typically treated as a single outcome, obscuring the differing demands of theoretical and practical coursework. We examined how health, sleep quality, fitness, energy drink consumption, and sport status relate to performance across course types.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Questionnaire data from 530 first-year kinesiology students (University of Zagreb, 2022\/23\u20132024\/25) were linked to official records of final grades in 11 courses. Ordinary least squares models with robust standard errors were estimated for overall GPA and six course-specific GPAs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Males scored 0.21 points lower than females, most markedly in theoretical courses. Better self-rated health and fitness predicted higher grades. Sleep quality was unrelated to overall GPA but positively associated with team-sport grades. Energy drink intake showed a U-shaped association; professional athletes underperformed in theoretical courses.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Predictors of academic success operate differently across course types, supporting targeted academic support and health-promotion initiatives; the cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1795078","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T04:28:13Z","timestamp":1784780893000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Fit to learn: health and lifestyle predictors of academic performance in sports studies undergraduates"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Mario","family":"Kasovi\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb","place":["Zagreb, Croatia"]},{"name":"Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University","place":["Brno, Czechia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bruno","family":"\u0160krinjari\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Institute of Economics Zagreb","place":["Zagreb, Croatia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tom\u00e1\u0161","family":"Vespalec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University","place":["Brno, Czechia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Petra Vita","family":"Kasovi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, University of Zagreb","place":["Zagreb, Croatia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana","family":"Crnjak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb","place":["Zagreb, Croatia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"772","DOI":"10.1177\/00207640241229381","article-title":"Influence of stress, anxiety, and depression on sleep quality and academic performance of medical students in Fallujah University, Iraq","volume":"70","author":"Al Ani","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2389","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11172389","article-title":"Sleep quality and fatigue during exam periods in university students: prevalence and associated factors","volume":"11","author":"Bouloukaki","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2015.10.001","article-title":"Without a map: college access and the online practices of youth from low-income communities","author":"Brown","year":"2016","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7525-1-60","article-title":"The quality of life scale (QOLS): reliability, validity, and utilization","volume":"1","author":"Burckhardt","year":"2003","journal-title":"Health Qual. Life Outcomes"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/0165-1781(89)90047-4","article-title":"The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research","volume":"28","author":"Buysse","year":"1989","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1080\/1612197X.2016.1223420","article-title":"Health-related physical fitness, academic achievement, and neuroelectric measures in children and adolescents","volume":"17","author":"Chu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.3102\/0013189x11415260","article-title":"A conceptual model of academic success for student-athletes","volume":"40","author":"Comeaux","year":"2011","journal-title":"Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"272","DOI":"10.3102\/0034654310362998","article-title":"Class attendance in higher education: a meta-analytic review of the relationship of class attendance with grades and student characteristics","volume":"80","author":"Cred\u00e9","year":"2010","journal-title":"Rev. Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1197","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000000901","article-title":"Physical activity, fitness, cognitive function, and academic achievement in children: a systematic review","volume":"48","author":"Donnelly","year":"2016","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1037\/a0030202","article-title":"Seeing the \u201cwe\u201d in \u201cme\u201d sports: the need to consider individual sport team environments","volume":"53","author":"Evans","year":"2012","journal-title":"Can. Psychol."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cobeha.2019.12.008","article-title":"Sleep and academic performance: considering amount, quality and timing","volume":"33","author":"Fonseca","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"376","DOI":"10.1539\/joh.13-0030-OA","article-title":"Perceived fitness protects against stress-based mental health impairments among police officers who report good sleep","volume":"55","author":"Gerber","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Occup. Health"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"705650","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2021.705650","article-title":"The effect of sleep quality and quantity on athlete's health and perceived training quality","volume":"3","author":"Hamlin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Sports Act. Living"},{"key":"ref14","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"773","DOI":"10.1007\/s10654-008-9287-6","article-title":"Are different measures of self-rated health comparable? An assessment in five European countries","volume":"23","author":"J\u00fcrges","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur. J. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1663","DOI":"10.2147\/NSS.S328218","article-title":"The associations between objectively measured gait speed and subjective sleep quality in first-year university students, according to gender","volume":"13","author":"Kasovi\u0107","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Sci. Sleep"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.2147\/CIA.S240156","article-title":"Self-reported vs measured physical fitness in older women","volume":"15","author":"Kasovi\u0107","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Interv. Aging"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1112","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-026-26324-5","article-title":"The relationship between academic achievement, health behaviors, and school climate among university students","volume":"26","author":"Kesin","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.15517\/revedu.v43i2.28916","article-title":"Factors that influence academic performance: analyzing gender differences in accounting students","volume":"43","author":"Mart\u00ed-Ballester","year":"2019","journal-title":"Rev. Educ."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.3296211","article-title":"Gender differences under test pressure and their impact on academic performance: a quasi-experimental design","volume":"120","author":"Montolio","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Econ. Behav. Organ."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1007\/s10900-017-0386-8","article-title":"Do energy drink consumers study more?","volume":"43","author":"Oglesby","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Community Health"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1038\/S41539-019-0055-Z","article-title":"Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students","volume":"4","author":"Okano","year":"2019","journal-title":"NPJ Sci. Learn."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0319533","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0319533","article-title":"Effects of energy drinks on mental health and academic performance of university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol","volume":"20","author":"Oliveira Batista","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1080\/08870440310001638098","article-title":"Subjective social status: reliability and predictive utility for global health","volume":"19","author":"Operario","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychol. Health"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1596","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-09639-9","article-title":"Quality of life and mortality in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"20","author":"Phyo","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15651","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph192315651","article-title":"Sport participation and academic performance in young elite athletes","volume":"19","author":"Pinto-Escalona","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1751-9861.2000.tb00064.x","article-title":"Perceived fitness predicts daily coping better than physical activity","volume":"5","author":"Plante","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Appl. Biobehav. Res."},{"key":"ref28","article-title":"Consumption patterns of energy drinks in university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"Protano","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1002\/pits.70079","article-title":"Socioeconomic status and academic performance: serially mediated by social support and attitude to school","volume":"63","author":"Pyun","year":"2026","journal-title":"Psychol. Sch."},{"key":"ref30","first-page":"91","volume-title":"Whither Opportunity? Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children's Life Chances","author":"Reardon","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101556","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smrv.2021.101556","article-title":"Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials","volume":"60","author":"Scott","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sleep Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0325242024","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.0325-24.2024","article-title":"Sleep consolidation potentiates sensorimotor adaptation","volume":"44","author":"Solano","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2016.10.004","article-title":"A person-oriented approach to sport and school burnout in adolescent student-athletes: the role of individual and parental expectations","volume":"28","author":"Sorkkila","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref34","first-page":"56","article-title":"Crisis-transitions in dual careers of student-athletes","volume":"16","author":"Stambulova","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"605","volume-title":"Routledge Companion to Sport and Exercise Psychology","author":"Stambulova","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-025-06661-6","article-title":"The relationship between health-related quality of life and academic success in nursing students: the mediating role of academic burnout and academic motivation","volume":"25","author":"Torkani","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.34293\/education.v11i1.4949","article-title":"Examination of sports sciences faculty student\u2019s competence in sports levels and self-efficacy in sports according to various variables","volume":"11","author":"Turan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Shanlax Int. J. Educ."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1174","DOI":"10.1037\/a0036620","article-title":"Gender differences in scholastic achievement: a meta-analysis","volume":"140","author":"Voyer","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psychol. Bull."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1403","DOI":"10.1016\/0277-9536(95)00112-K","article-title":"The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): position paper from the World Health Organization","volume":"41","year":"1995","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0335485","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0335485","article-title":"The effect of socioeconomic status on academic achievement: a big data study across countries and time with integrative data analysis","volume":"20","author":"Yigiter","year":"2025","journal-title":"PLoS One"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1795078\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,29]],"date-time":"2026-07-29T13:04:58Z","timestamp":1785330298000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1795078\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1795078"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1795078","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"article-number":"1795078"}}