Association Between 24-h Movement Behavior, Physical Fitness, and Inhibitory Control in School Adolescents: A Complex...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Understanding the interplay between 24-hour movement behaviors, physical fitness, and cognitive functions like inhibitory control is crucial for adolescent development.
• Previous research has explored these relationships, but a comprehensive network analysis examining their interconnections in adolescents is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interrelationships between 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, screen time, sleep), health-related physical fitness, and inhibitory control performance in adolescents.
• To determine the direct and indirect associations between these factors using network analysis.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 216 Brazilian adolescents (mean age 16.7 years).
• Movement behaviors assessed via surveys and digital tools; physical fitness measured by PACER, push-up tests, and BMI; inhibitory control evaluated using the Flanker task.
• Network analyses were conducted on reaction times for congruent and incongruent stimuli.

Main Results:

• Adolescents meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines exhibited faster reaction times, indicating better inhibitory control.
• Physical activity showed a negative association with reaction time in both congruent and incongruent networks.
• Aerobic capacity and muscular strength were central components in the network structures, suggesting an indirect link to inhibitory control.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to MVPA guidelines is directly linked to enhanced inhibitory control in adolescents.
• Health-related physical fitness, specifically aerobic capacity and muscular strength, indirectly influences inhibitory control.
• Sleep duration, screen time, and daytime sleepiness were not associated with inhibitory control in this adolescent sample.