Swimming frequency and academic performance among primary school-aged children in Kampala District, Uganda
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This is the author’s self-archived published version of an article originally published in International Journal of Science Academic Research. PUBLISHED: at http://www.scienceijsar.com. Official citation (please use this when citing): Besigomwe, K. (2025). Swimming frequency and academic performance among primary school-aged children in Kampala District, Uganda. International Journal of Science Academic Research, 6(1), 9155–9161. Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between swimming frequency and academic performance among primary school-aged children in Kampala District, Uganda. The research was guided by three objectives: (i) to examine the relationship between the frequency of swimming participation and academic performance, (ii) to assess the effect of the duration of swimming sessions on academic performance, and (iii) to evaluate the impact of the type of swimming activity on academic performance. A quantitative approach was adopted, utilizing surveys and academic performance data to assess how swimming participation influences academic achievement. A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was employed, targeting 200 students from seven primary schools (both private and public) in Kampala, with stratified random sampling ensuring diversity across gender, grade level, and socio-economic background. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between swimming frequency and academic performance (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), indicating that increased swimming frequency isassociated with improved academic outcomes. Multiple regression analysis further confirmed that swimming frequency is a significant predictor of academic performance (β = 0.35, p < 0.01). Specifically, for every additional swimming session per week, academic performance increased by 0.32 units, controlling for other variables such as gender and school type.Regarding the duration of swimming sessions, a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.38, p < 0.05) was found with academic performance, suggesting that longer swimming sessions contribute to improved academic results. Additionally, the type of swimming activity showed significant effects, with structured swimming being the most strongly associated with high academic performance (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). The findings suggest that increasing access to swimming opportunities, particularly in public schools, could enhance academic performance. The study calls for further investment in swimming infrastructure, particularly in public schools, and emphasizes the importance of integrating swimming into school curricula. It also recommends addressing barriers to access through community collaboration and policy initiatives, and suggests that future research should include longitudinal studies to explore the long-term effects of swimming on academic success.Keywords: “Swimming Frequency”, “Academic Performance”, “Primary School Children”, “Kampala District”, “Physical Education”. Copyright and publication note: This article was originally published in International Journal of Science Academic Research in 2025. Copyright and reuse rights are governed by the original journal publication and its DOI. The Zenodo record serves only as a self-archived copy for long-term scholarly access. License: All rights reserved.
Author: Besigomwe, Kenneth
Language: English
Subfield: Life-span and Life-course Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7118287127
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