Wu Renle, Kong Sunga, Kang Suh-Jung
College of Physical Education, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, China.
Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences & Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06355, Republic of Korea.
Children (Basel). 2023 Dec 29;11(1):42. doi: 10.3390/children11010042.
Previous studies have suggested that a positive relationship exists between physical activity (PA), physical fitness, and cognitive function in children and adolescents. However, research remains limited on the relationship among these three variables in Chinese individuals not living in big cities or specific regions. Therefore, this study investigated the association of PA with physical fitness and cognitive function (specifically, executive function) among 1100 children aged 9-12 years living in the Jiangxi region of China. Participants' PA levels were measured using the PA questionnaire for older children. Physical fitness was assessed based on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body mass index (BMI). Executive function was assessed using the Behavior Rating in Inventory of Executive Function questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way analyses of variance, Scheffé tests, one-way analyses of covariance, and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The results showed that PA is significantly associated ( < 0.01) with cardiorespiratory endurance (r = 0.460), muscular endurance (r = 0.270), muscle strength (r = 0.190), BMI (r = -0.114), and executive function (r = -0.140). Moreover, all components of physical fitness and executive function differed significantly based on PA level, with and without age and sex as covariates ( < 0.05). Overall, our results highlight the importance of higher PA levels during childhood to improve physical fitness and cognitive function. Including the goal of improving health-related fitness factors, such as cardiorespiratory endurance and muscle strength, is particularly important in PA programs for children.
先前的研究表明，儿童和青少年的身体活动（PA）、身体素质与认知功能之间存在正相关关系。然而，对于不住在大城市或特定地区的中国人群，这三个变量之间关系的研究仍然有限。因此，本研究调查了1100名居住在中国江西地区、年龄在9至12岁儿童中PA与身体素质和认知功能（具体为执行功能）之间的关联。使用针对大龄儿童的PA问卷测量参与者的PA水平。基于心肺耐力、肌肉力量、肌肉耐力、柔韧性和体重指数（BMI）评估身体素质。使用执行功能问卷中的行为评定量表评估执行功能。采用单因素方差分析、谢费检验、单因素协方差分析和皮尔逊相关系数进行数据分析。结果表明，PA与心肺耐力（r = 0.460）、肌肉耐力（r = 0.270）、肌肉力量（r = 0.190）、BMI（r = -0.114）和执行功能（r = -0.140）显著相关（<0.01）。此外，无论是否将年龄和性别作为协变量，身体素质和执行功能的所有组成部分在PA水平上均存在显著差异（<0.05）。总体而言，我们的结果强调了儿童期较高PA水平对于改善身体素质和认知功能的重要性。在儿童的PA计划中，纳入改善与健康相关的身体素质因素（如心肺耐力和肌肉力量）的目标尤为重要。
