Motor coordination mediates the relationship between physical activity and executive function among preschoolers.

This cross-sectional study is to examine the association between motor coordination (MC) and executive function (EF) sub-domains and to test whether MC would mediate the effect on the association between different physical activity (PA) intensities and EF sub-domains. Following ethical approval, 401...

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Publicado en:International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 875 - 893
Autores principales: Liu, Jing, Xu, Zhengye, Fang, Yuan, Zheng, Chen, Wang, Pengcheng, Wang, Zixin, Cooper, Simon B., Liu, Duo, Sun, Fenghua
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2026
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        10.1080/1612197X.2025.2487881
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      tig:
        atl: Motor coordination mediates the relationship between physical activity and executive function among preschoolers.
      aug:
        au:
          Liu, Jing
          Xu, Zhengye
          Fang, Yuan
          Zheng, Chen
          Wang, Pengcheng
          Wang, Zixin
          Cooper, Simon B.
          Liu, Duo
          Sun, Fenghua
        affil:
          Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
          Laboratory of Exercise Science and Health, Beijing Normal University – Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai, People's Republic of China
          Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
          Centre for Health Behaviours Research, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
          Department of Sport Sciences, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
      su:
        Executive function
        Motor ability
        Preschool children
        Physical activity
        Cognitive flexibility
        Short-term memory
        Response inhibition
        Mediation (Statistics)
      sug:
        subj:
          Executive function
          Motor ability
          Preschool children
          Physical activity
          Cognitive flexibility
          Short-term memory
          Response inhibition
          Mediation (Statistics)
      keyword:
        cognitive development
        executive function
        motor competence
        preschooler
        cognitive development
        executive function
        motor competence
        preschooler
      ab: This cross-sectional study is to examine the association between motor coordination (MC) and executive function (EF) sub-domains and to test whether MC would mediate the effect on the association between different physical activity (PA) intensities and EF sub-domains. Following ethical approval, 401 preschoolers (boys 52%; 4.75 ± 0.77 years) were recruited for this study. The device measured PA with different intensities was assessed via wearing accelerometry for 7 days. MC was measured by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Second Edition. EF, including the sub-domains of working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, were assessed using cognitive-related tasks. Positive correlations between MC and three EF sub-domains were observed. Moreover, mediation analysis results indicated that MC was partially mediating the relationship between vigorous PA and working memory (indirect effect = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.007–0.057), inhibitory control (indirect effect = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.008–0.056) and cognitive flexibility (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.003–0.048). Furthermore, MC partially mediated the effects of moderate PA on working memory (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.0001-0.0469), inhibitory control (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.001–0.048), but not cognitive flexibility. However, no significant mediation effects were found between light PA and any sub-domain of EF. This study provided evidence that MC partially mediated the association between vigorous PA, moderate PA and some EF subdomains. It indicated the important role of MC in facilitating the development of EF in early childhood.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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