Relationship between 24-hour movement behaviors and executive function in preschool children based on compositional...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Executive function (EF) is crucial for cognitive and social development in early childhood.
• Understanding the interplay of 24-hour movement behaviors (24h-MBs) with EF is essential for targeted interventions.
• Preschoolers' daily routines involve a balance of sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), and physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between 24-hour movement behaviors (24h-MBs) and executive function (EF) in preschool children.
• To determine how different components of 24h-MBs, including physical activity, SB, and sleep, relate to various EF domains.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 366 preschool children (aged ~4 years) in China participated.
• Accelerometers measured physical activity and SB, while sleep diaries recorded sleep duration.
• Executive function was assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Preschool Version (BRIEF-P), with compositional data analysis employed.

Main Results:

• Relative time spent in different 24h-MBs was significantly associated with EF and its subdomains (p < 0.05).
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) showed significant positive associations with inhibitory control, working memory, emotional control, planning, and overall EF.
• Sedentary behavior (SB) was significantly associated with working memory and overall EF.

Conclusions:

• Shifting time from sleep, SB, or light physical activity (LPA) to MVPA, or from SB to sleep, has complex and varying effects on preschoolers' EF development.
• Interventions should consider the nuanced relationships between different 24h-MBs to effectively promote EF.
• Further research is needed to explore long-term impacts and optimize intervention strategies for children's EF.