Relationship between physical fitness components, executive functions, and socioemotional skills in school-aged children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119799Keywords:
Child development, cognitive performance, Motor coordination, inhibitory control, Working MemoryAbstract
Introduction: A growing body of evidence indicates that physical activity and physical fitness are positively associated with brain function and cognitive performance, particularly during childhood. However, it remains unclear which specific physical fitness components are more strongly related to executive function subdomains and socioemotional skills.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between physical fitness components, executive functions, and socioemotional skills in school-aged children.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study included 93 children aged 8-12 years (44.1% girls). Inhibitory control, working memory, physical fitness components, and socioemotional skills were assessed. Pearson and Spearman correlations were conducted according to data distribution, followed by multiple linear regression analyses controlling for age.
Results: Several physical fitness components were significantly correlated with executive function outcomes. Hand-eye coordination showed the strongest and most consistent associations, particularly with inhibitory control (rs = 0.570; p < 0.001). In regression analyses, hand-eye coordination emerged as the most consistent predictor of global executive function and inhibitory control, explaining up to 33.5% of the variance. Although working memory was correlated with physical fitness, it was primarily explained by age (p = 0.004). No significant associations were observed between physical fitness and socioemotional skills.
Discussion: These findings suggest that different components of physical fitness may contribute differently to executive function domains, with perceptual-motor coordination playing a central role in inhibitory control.
Conclusions: Specific components of physical fitness, particularly hand-eye coordination, are associated with executive function performance in children, especially inhibitory control, highlighting the importance of motor coordination in cognitive development during childhood.
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