Philippine Christian University

Sampaloc 1, Dasmariñas City, Cavite 4114

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
S.Y. 2021-2022

RESEARCH 12 DEPARTMENT
Introduction

Background of the Study

Physical health pertains to an individual's body's well-being and the normal

functioning of their body which is a typical condition of people both physical and mental
health, also it is used to be defined as your body being free of sickness or disability, but
as healthcare has advanced and people have begun living longer lives with a variety of
diseases, this definition has changed to reflect that perspective. According to the
American Heart Association “Physical activity boosts mental wellness. Regular physical
activity can relieve tension, stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. You may feel a good
sensation immediately following your physical activity, and most people also note an
improvement in general well-being over time as physical activity becomes a part of their
routine.” Emotional, psychological, and social well-being all fall under the scope of
mental health. It has a great impact on our ideas, emotions, and behaviors, also it
influences how we deal with stress, socialize, and make decisions. It includes number of
connections between mental health and physical diseases, which all have a significant
impact on people's standard of living, especially on the students’ performance in school.
A study revealed that approximately 75% of young adults aged 18 and above expressed
feelings of despair at some time throughout the year 2019. Teens and young adults are
more prone to suicide thoughts and self-injury during their high school and college years
for a variety of reasons. While many adolescents are susceptible to mental health
problems owing to genetic family history, many cases of mental health problems in high
school and college students are caused by environmental variables at home, among
friends, through extracurricular activities, employment, academic demands, and so
on. Academic performance of students is significant in creating the best quality students
who will become an outstanding leader and manpower for the country responsible for
the economic and social development. In recent years, physical and mental health of
the students has been a great issue worldwide. With the constant increase of problems
affecting the academic performance of students globally, research and studies
regarding this topic attracts the attention of many researchers, including health
professionals, instructor, and learners. A study by the Washington State Healthy Youth
Survey shows that the more health risk students had, the more likely that they were also
at an academic risk. In addition, mental and physical health of the students affects their
academic performances positively and negatively based on the condition or level of their
mental and physical health.

People experiencing a serious mental health conditions are at risk of

experiencing chronic physical conditions and physical chronic conditions can result in
developing a poor mental health (WHO,2018). One of the factors that cause mental
drain is lack of sleep. Sleep is essential for good health, most scientists agree that sleep
is important for restoring physical and mental health, lack of sleep however can cause
fatigue, poor concentration, poor memory, mood disturbances, and poor physical
coordination, this can contribute to mental health problems. According to the National
Alliance on Mental Illness, 44% of students experience symptoms of depression, 80% of
students feel overwhelmed by academic responsibilities, and 50% have struggled with
anxiety. These mental health issues can hurt your ability to sleep well. Depression and
anxiety are also the ones who are stopping them from doing a healthy lifestyle or it
would be difficult for them to start such physical activity. There are also scenarios that if
a student lacks motivation, it will not lead them to take any actions because a student’s
mind stops them from doing something that will affect their physical health, especially
their mental health entirely. Both has a crucial role when it comes to students’ academic
performance since having a problem with our physical health can significantly increase
our risk of developing mental health problems and vice versa. Students with poor
physical and mental health are more likely to fail their academics, grade retention and
dropout (Shaw et al.,2015). As well as mental health issues among adolescents not only
cause such problems but also affect their academic performance (Bas, 2021).