Relationship between physical fitness and executive function in preschool children: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation medicine & rehabilitation, 2024-12, Vol.16 (1), p.238-9
• Main Authors: Zhou, Zhaowen, Chen, Yiping, Huang, Ke, Zeng, Feng, Liang, Zhenwen, Wang, Nan, Chen, Zhuoming, Deng, Cheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Educational evaluation; Executive function; Exercise; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Physical fitness; Preschool
• ISSN: 2052-1847; 2052-1847
• DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-01028-8

Physical fitness (PF) is important for children's physical and cognitive development. There is increasing interest in the relationship between physical fitness, and executive function. Since it is unclear which physical fitness component benefits which domain of executive functioning, it's challenging to develop effective physical intervention programs for children with executive functioning disorders. This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical fitness components, and executive function domains. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 kindergartens and recruited 272 preschool children aged 3-6. PF was assessed by the National Physical Fitness Measurement (NPFM), including six physical fitness subtests: 10-m shuttle run test (SRT), standing long jump (SLJ), tennis ball throwing (TBT), double-leg timed hop (DTH) tests, sit-and-reach (SR), and balance beam walking (BBW). Executive function assessments include the dimensional change card sort (DCCS) test, digit span test (DST) and Head-toe-knee-shoulder (HTKS) task, to evaluate cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control respectively. Results from the Spearman correlations analysis showed a significant association between physical fitness and executive function. The hierarchical linear regression showed that age was the only predictor for cognitive flexibility (β = 0.53, p