24-Hour movement behaviors and executive functions in preschoolers: A compositional and isotemporal reallocation
Patrick W C Lau1, Huiqi Song1, Di Song2
1Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Balancing daily movement behaviors like physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep is crucial for young children's executive functions. Specifically, increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while reducing sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep can enhance inhibitory control and working memory.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Behavioral Science
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Executive function (EF) is critical for cognitive development in early childhood.
- Understanding the impact of 24-hour movement behaviors on EF is essential for promoting healthy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) and executive function in preschool children.
- To determine how reallocating time between different movement behaviors influences specific components of executive function.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 426 Han Chinese preschoolers (aged 3.8 ± 0.6 years).
- Objective measurement of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) using accelerometers.
- Parent-reported sleep duration and computerized behavioral tasks to assess executive function (cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory).
Main Results:
- The daily composition of movement behaviors was significantly associated with inhibitory control and working memory.
- Increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at the expense of sedentary behavior (SB) and sleep was linked to improved inhibitory control.
- Reallocating time between MVPA, SB, sleep, and light physical activity showed significant associations with working memory.
Conclusions:
- The daily time composition of movement behaviors is a significant correlate of executive function in preschoolers.
- Strategies focusing on increasing MVPA while reducing SB and sleep may enhance inhibitory control.
- Optimizing the balance between different movement behaviors is important for supporting working memory development in early childhood.
Abstract:
This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between 24-hour movement behaviors and executive function (EF) in preschool children. A total of 426 Han Chinese preschoolers (231 males; 3.8 ± 0.6 years old) from Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China were selected from October 2021 to December 2021. Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), while sleep duration was obtained via a parent-report questionnaire. Components of EF (cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory) were assessed using computerized behavioral tasks. The daily composition was significantly associated with inhibitory control and working memory. Inhibitory control improvements were linked to the addition of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at the expense of SB and sleep. The reallocation between MVPA, SB, sleep, and light physical activity yielded a significant association with working memory.
