EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON DEPRESSION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF MALE STUDENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KERMANSHAH PROVINCE

This paper aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity on depression and academic performance of male students of secondary schools in Kermanshah Province conducted. Research method is field and quasi-experimental. The study population consisted of secondary school students in Kermanshah province, the number is 45,000 and statistical sample was 450 randomly selected districts of the city in three groups of athletes (individual and group) and non-athletes group and individual athletes and two groups at least three sessions per week for eight weeks. In addition, each had a half hour of physical activity, while non-athletes in this period did not have any physical activity. In this study, the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire to collect information needed to assess depression and for academic performance the mean students at the end of school year 2007-2008 used. Statistical methods, descriptive statistics and parametric and non-parametric correlation coefficient appropriate and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests were used. The results showed that physical activity reduces depression and improves academic performance at the significance level (α=0.5).