24-hour movement behaviour and executive function in preschoolers: A compositional and isotemporal reallocation...

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Healthy behaviors in preschool children are crucial for development, particularly executive function (EF).
• The 24-hour movement behaviour (24h MB) composition, encompassing sleep, sedentary time, and physical activity, is increasingly recognized for its health implications.
• The specific relationship between the 24h MB composition and EF in preschoolers remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the associations between the 24h MB composition and EF in preschoolers.
• To investigate the theoretical impact on EF by reallocating time among different movement behaviours.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 123 preschoolers (3-5 years old) from low socioeconomic status backgrounds.
• Objective assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviour via accelerometry over 7 days.
• Parental interviews for sleep duration and standardized EF assessment using the Early Tool Box battery.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between the 24h MB composition and EF (p < .0001; R² = 0.34).
• Theoretical reallocation of time, such as shifting 5-20 minutes from sleep or light PA to moderate-to-vigorous PA, was linked to significant EF improvements (p < .05).

Conclusions:

• The study provides novel insights into the interplay between 24h MB composition and EF in preschool children.
• Findings suggest that optimizing the balance of sleep, sedentary time, and physical activity is vital for enhancing EF in early childhood.
• These results have implications for researchers and practitioners aiming to improve EF and physical activity levels in preschoolers.