Not everything helps the same for everyone: relevance of extracurricular activities for academic achievement

This study investigates the impact of extracurricular activities (EA) on academic achievement among adolescents, considering interactions between sex, age, and parental education level. A sample of 1148 adolescents (aged 12-18) completed questionnaires on EA participation, and academic and sociodemographic data were collected. Results reveal that the relationship between EA and academic achievement varies across adolescent stages. Early adolescents (12-14 years) benefit academically from participation in various activities (especially girls with higher parental education and involvement in reading), whereas middle-to-late adolescents (15-18 years) benefit from fewer activities and reduced breadth of participation. The findings support the evolutionary hypothesis of activity specialization during adolescence, with implications for integrating curricular and extracurricular elements in schools.

Álvaro Balaguer, Edgar Benítez, Aranzazu Albertos, Sonia Lara