Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children

Kristin Wick; Susi Kriemler; Urs Granacher

doi:10.1186/s13102-022-00470-w

Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 May 1;14(1):80. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00470-w.

Authors

Kristin Wick^{1

2}, Susi Kriemler³, Urs Granacher⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Applied Sciences for Sports and Management Potsdam, Am Luftschiffhafen 1, 14471, Potsdam, Germany. wick@fhsmp.de.
² Division of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany. wick@fhsmp.de.
³ Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁴ Division of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.

Abstract

Background: Given that recent studies report negative secular declines in physical fitness, associations between fitness and cognition in childhood are strongly discussed. The preschool age is characterized by high neuroplasticity which effects motor skill learning, physical fitness, and cognitive development. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of physical fitness and attention (including its individual dimensions (quantitative, qualitative)) as one domain of cognitive performance in preschool children. We hypothesized that fitness components which need precise coordination compared to simple fitness components are stronger related to attention.

Methods: Physical fitness components like static balance (i.e., single-leg stance), muscle strength (i.e., handgrip strength), muscle power (i.e., standing long jump), and coordination (i.e., hopping on one leg) were assessed in 61 healthy children (mean age 4.5 ± 0.6 years; girls n = 30). Attention was measured with the "Konzentrations-Handlungsverfahren für Vorschulkinder" [concentration-action procedure for preschoolers]). Analyses were adjusted for age, body height, and body mass.

Results: Results from single linear regression analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) association between physical fitness (composite score) and attention (composite score) (standardized ß = 0.40), showing a small to medium effect (F² = 0.14). Further, coordination had a significant relation with the composite score and the quantitative dimension of attention (standardized ß = 0.35; p < 0.01; standardized ß = - 0.33; p < 0.05). Coordination explained about 11% (composite score) and 9% (quantitative dimension) of the variance in the stepwise multiple regression model.

Conclusion: The results indicate that performance in physical fitness, particularly coordination, is related to attention in preschool children. Thus, high performance in complex fitness components (i.e., hopping on one leg) tends to predict attention in preschool children. Further longitudinal studies should focus on the effectiveness of physical activity programs implementing coordination and complex exercises at preschool age to examine cause-effect relationships between physical fitness and attention precisely.

Keywords: Attention; Cognitive skills; Kindergarten; Motor skills.