THE NEXUS BETWEEN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AS MEDIATORS

The current study analyzes the interrelatedness of physical education and academic success of the students in the universities hailing from Punjab, Pakistan and how spiritual intelligence and psychological resilience mediate this relationship. While the benefits of physical education in the body are well documented, the benefits are arriving of physical education on the mental and psychological aspects of education. The study will employ the quantitative survey, with the collection of data from higher educational institutions in Punjab. It is observed in study that students with respect to participation in physical education activities and spiritual intelligence, self-knowledge, meaning-making, perfection and holistic knowledge, psychological resilience, which is capacity to withstand hardship and sickness. For this purpose, the study uses validated measures. In order to conduct the study systematically, some hypotheses were developed from the theoretical framework of current study to test the hypothesized relationships and reaching the desired conclusions thereby extracting new and innovative information used for decision making and contributions. The study used statistical procedures to assess direct and indirect effects of physical education on students’ performances academically. Evidence shows there is a robust relationship between involvement in physical education and enhanced academic performance. In addition, there is a partial mediating effect of spiritual intelligence and psychological resilience. This means that students that practice physical education tend to increased spiritual intelligence, psychological resilience, which are then positively related to academic performance. The results confirm the need of all-inclusive educational system that mixes the spiritual, physical, and psychological magnitudes. The present study suggests that education institutions respect physical education as means of improving the students’ mental, physical wellbeing and, emotional development. Additionally, it recommends and regard further education curricula, with students’ assistance programs and future examination to boost sustained academic success possible over the varied physical education programs.