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Change in Sleep Latency as a Mediator of the Effect of Physical Activity Intervention on Executive Functions Among
Hui Qiu1, Xiao Liang2,3
1Department of Educational Administration and Policy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Physical activity interventions improve cognitive flexibility in children with ADHD by reducing sleep latency. This suggests sleep latency is a key mediator for enhancing executive functions through exercise.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with executive function (EF) deficits.
- Physical activity (PA) interventions are explored for improving EFs in children with ADHD.
- The mediating role of sleep quality in this relationship requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mediating role of sleep quality in the effectiveness of PA interventions for improving EFs in children with ADHD.
- To examine the direct effects of PA on EFs and sleep quality.
- To determine if sleep quality mediates the impact of PA on EFs.
Main Methods:
- 80 children (6-12 years) with ADHD were randomized into a 12-week PA intervention group or a wait-list control group.
- Executive functions (inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility) were assessed using neurocognitive tasks.
- Sleep quality, including sleep latency, was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
Main Results:
- The PA intervention directly reduced sleep latency and improved cognitive flexibility.
- A significant mediation effect was found: changes in sleep latency partially explained the improvement in cognitive flexibility.
- The intervention showed a direct effect on reducing sleep latency (β = -0.26) and enhancing cognitive flexibility (β = -0.30).
Conclusions:
- Sleep latency reduction is a significant behavioral mediator in the PA intervention's effect on cognitive flexibility in children with ADHD.
- Targeting sleep quality, specifically sleep latency, may enhance the benefits of physical activity for executive functions in this population.
- Findings highlight the interconnectedness of physical activity, sleep, and cognitive function in pediatric ADHD management.
Abstract:
This study aimed to explore the potential mediating role of sleep quality in the effect of physical activity (PA) intervention for improving executive functions (EFs) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants aged 6 to 12 years old with a formal ADHD diagnosis were recruited from a local hospital. A total of 80 eligible children with ADHD were randomized to an intervention group for 12 consecutive weeks of PA training (three times per week, 60 min per session) (n = 40; Mage = 8.37, 75% boys) or a wait-list control group (n = 40; Mage = 8.29, 80% boys). Three core EFs (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) were assessed by neurocognitive tasks, and sleep quality was measured by the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The bootstrapping method was used to test PA intervention effects on EFs and on potential variables of sleep quality after intervention and to test whether there were indirect effects of the intervention on EFs via mediators of sleep. The results showed that the PA intervention had a direct effect on sleep latency reduction (β = - 0.26, 95%CI - 0.47 to - 0.06) and cognitive flexibility improvement (decrease in completion time) (β = - 0.30, 95%CI - 0.50 to - 0.09). Furthermore, change in sleep latency significantly mediated the effects of PA intervention on cognitive flexibility (β = - 0.084, 95%CI - 0.252 to - 0.001). The findings suggest that sleep latency could be a crucial behavioral mediator of PA intervention in improving cognitive flexibility among children with ADHD.
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