The Influence of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Achievement and Emotional Well-Being of Students

Extracurricular activities are one of the most important parts of the child's life, which contributes not only to the development of his new skills and abilities, but also to the successful process of socialization and personal development. Nevertheless, most of the research in this field was conducted in foreign countries, while there have been relatively few studies on extracurricular activities in Russia. The purpose of this study is to identify whether extracurricular activities are connected with academic achievement and emotional well-being of students. The empirical basis was the results of an online survey of 10-11graders in the Nevsky district and quantitative data collected using a continuous questionnaire of 9 graders in the city of Kirishi. The results showed that extracurricular activities in general are positively related to the academic success of schoolchildren, regardless of locality. It is also related to their emotional well-being, but this effect depends on the locality. Students of the city of Kirishi who attend extracurricular activities at school are more likely to feel part of the school and are involved in the learning process, then the pupils of the Nevsky district who attend extracurricular activities at school, have a higher average score and are more confident in their knowledge of the subjects.