The association between the health-related physical fitness and inhibitory control in preschool children

BMC Pediatrics

Jiajia Liu¹  Menghao Sang¹  Tang Zhou¹  Yanhua Lu¹  Yiyan Li¹  Minghui Quan²  Xiaolong He³ 

[1] School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China;School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China;Shanghai Frontiers Science Rearch Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China;School of Physical Education and Health Science, Zhejiang Normal University, 321004, Jinhua, China;

关键词: Preschool children;    Health-related physical fitness;    Flanker task;    Inhibitory control;    Reaction time;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12887-022-03163-y

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundInhibitory control develops rapidly during the preschool stage, and development of inhibitory control in this period is significant for the healthy growth of the future. However, most studies paid more attention to children and adolescents in recent years, but less focus on preschool children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the association between the health-related physical fitness and inhibitory control in preschool children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was based on a baseline data from randomized controlled trial by cluster sampling(including 128 preschoolers, 70 boys, 58girls).The health-related physical fitness T-score (HPFT) was obtained by adding standard scores of six indicators: body mass index, handgrip strength, standing long jump, one-leg balance, 2 × 10 m shuttle run test, and 20 m shuttle run test. Inhibitory control was assessed using the flanker task and reflected by reaction time and accuracy.ResultsA total of 120 preschoolers were included in the final statistical analysis. After adjusting the confounders, HPFT was associated with reaction time (β=-2.49 ms, 95%CI: -4.22, -0.75). Similarly, a negative association was observed between one-leg balance and reaction time (β=-12.04 ms, 95%CI: -18.94, -5.15), and between 20 m shuttle run test and reaction time (β=-23.28 ms, 95%CI: -37.00, -9.56). Compared with the participants in the lowest tertile, HPFT (β=-158.74, 95%CI: -309.63, -7.84), one-leg balance (β=-267.25 ms, 95%CI: -420.71, -113.79) and 20 m shuttle run test (β=-215.58 ms, 95%CI: -374.67, -56.49) were all negatively associated with reaction time of those in the highest tertile.ConclusionsNegative relationships between HPFT and RT of the inhibitory control were observed in preschoolers. To have better inhibitory control, it’s suggested that HPFT of preschoolers should be at least 249. These findings are of great significance for the early improvement of HPFT and the development of inhibitory control in preschool children.

【 授权许可】

CC BY