Preschool Children’s Cognition is Associated With Motor Skill Competence and Cardiovascular Fitness

Abstract

PURPOSE: While the early years are a critical window for the development of a healthy lifestyle, it is the period of growth for which we know the least about evidence linking physical activity with health outcomes in this population. This cross-sectional study examined the associations among physical activity (PA), motor skill competence (MSC), perceived physical competence (PPC), cardiovascular fitness (CF), and cognition in preschool children. METHODS: Sixty-five preschool children (33 girls; 27 White, 21 Black, 10 Hispanic, 7 other; X̅age = 4.45 ± 0.46; X̅BMIpercentile = 59.05 ± 32.04) were recruited from two local elementary schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Children’s 3 days PA during school time included moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and steps were assessed via Actigraph Link; MSC was measured via the Test of Gross Motor Development-Second Edition; PPC was assessed via the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance; CF was assessed via a modified YMCA 3-Minute Step Test; and cognition was assessed via the computer-administered NIH Toolbox. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the associations among outcome measures. RESULTS: Preschool children’s MVPA was not significantly related to MSC (r = 0.182, p > 0.05), PPC (r = 0.121, p > 0.05), CF (r = -0.141, p > 0.05), cognition (r = -0.095, p > 0.05), but step counts were significantly positively related to MSC (r = 0.282, p < 0.05), and preschool children’s MSC was a significant predictor of step counts [F (4, 63) = 4.65, β = 0.12, p < 0.05, R2 = 0.24] after age, gender, and BMI were adjusted. In addition, PPC was significantly positively correlated with MSC (r = 0.366, p < 0.01), and was a significant predictor of MSC [F (4, 63) = 2.66, β = 0.26, p = 0.04, R2 = 0.15]. Preschool children’s cognition was significantly positively correlated with MSC (r = 0.266, p < 0.01) and CF (r = 0.372, p < 0.01), respectively, but only CF seemed to be a significant predictor of cognition [F (2, 62) = 4.52, β = 0.35, t = 2.73, p = 0.01, R2 = 0.14]. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the need for effective strategies that simultaneously promote motor skill competence, cardiovascular fitness, cognition, and physical activity behaviors in early childhood. Future research with larger and more diverse samples is warranted.