Association between the 24-hour movement guidelines and executive function among Chinese children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Childhood is a critical period for brain development, influencing executive function (EF).
• The relationship between daily behaviors and children's EF remains under-explored.
• Understanding these links can inform interventions to support cognitive development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines and executive function in children.
• To determine if physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep duration impact different EF processes.

Main Methods:

• A study of 376 children (aged 7-12) in China measured PA via accelerometry and ST/sleep via self-report.
• Meeting guidelines was defined as ≥60 min/day PA, ≤2 h/day recreational ST, and 9-11 h/night sleep.
• EF was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), evaluating global performance, cognitive flexibility, rule discovery efficiency, and sustained attention.

Main Results:

• Higher adherence to movement guidelines positively correlated with better global performance (completed categories) and cognitive flexibility (shifting efficiency).
• Meeting PA and sleep recommendations was associated with superior global performance and rule discovery efficiency.
• Screen time recommendations showed no significant association with any EF processes.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines is associated with enhanced executive function in children.
• Promoting adequate physical activity and healthy sleep duration is crucial for fostering children's cognitive development.
• Future research could explore causal relationships and optimal guideline adherence levels.