由於根深蒂固的「萬般皆下品，唯有讀書高」儒家思想，乃至國內數十年來中學校園普遍過於重視學業，嚴重地剝奪了學生的休開機會。聯課活動究竟有益或有害課業學習？國外無數的實證研究仍未能下任何定論。而國內則尚未有此等關係之探討，本研究之目的即在填補此類文獻之空缺。
封國內為數577名高中學生所做之自填式問卷調查結果顯示：學生聯課活動參與與其學業成績與教育展望皆有正相關。經多因子變異數分析發現：學生之性別與活動皆對美學業成就呈主要作用，其中以參加非運動類活動之學生的學業成就最高，運動類次之，未參加者則殿後。在教育展望方面，男生較女生顯露更高的教育展望。此點似與我國一般人對性別差異所持的刻板印象相符。
本研究之主要結論為：聯課活動似有助於課業之學習。換言之，本結論封家長和學校普通所深信的「休間有礙知識學習」提出了有力的反證。過多的課程壓力可能適得其反，而適度的聯課活動參與別能擴大學生的生活領域，更有效激發學生之智慧。因此學校當局應體認休間生活對學生的重要性，從而提供更住的休閒機會與環境，以協助學生透過不同的生活經驗，發展出更健全的人格。
本研究期待未來研究者能進一步自學生的心理層面探討休閒與教育之關係，以建立更堅實的休閒理論基礎。

The ingrained Confucian notion that learning tops all trades' had resulted in an overemphasis on academics on high school campuses, and students' leisure pursuits in schools suffered during the past four decades. Whether participation in extracurricular activities (ECAs) is beneficial or detrimental to academic endeavors remains to be determined. There has been a lack of literature to examine how ECAs relate to academic performance and educational expectations in Taiwan. This study was conducted to fill this void.
The analysis of the data gathered from 577 high school students revealed that participation in ECAs associated with better academic scores and higher educational expectations. After gender and socioeconomic status intervened into the relationship, both gender and type of activity had main effects on academic success, with the nonsport group scoring the highest and nonparticipants the lowest. And females scored higher than male students. Only did gender show effect on educational aspirations, with male students having higher expectations. This seems to correspond with the Chinese stereotyped gender difference in academic pursuits.
In conclusion, the study shows a positive relationship of ECAs to academic success. It is likely that too much study hampers students from attaining more effective learning. School authorities should recognize the importance of leisure and provide students with a wider variety of leisure opportunities.