The relationship between 24-h Movement Behaviors and executive function in children aged 3-6 years: The mediating and moderating roles of fundamental movement skills.

OBJECTIVE

This study seeks to explore the role of children's fundamental movement skills(FMS) within the framework of 24-h Movement Behaviors and executive function(EF)through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM).

METHODS

The study employs a cross-sectional design. Apart from sleep data, which was collected via questionnaires, all other data were objectively measured using ActiGraph wGT3-BT accelerometers. EF was assessed using N-Back and Flanker tasks, while FMS was evaluated using the third edition of the test of gross motor development (TGMD-3). Both the isometric log-ratio (ILR) transformation and SEM were conducted using RStudio software.

RESULTS

Overall, 24-h Movement Behaviors predicted children's inhibitory control(IC) reaction time (P = 0.018). FMS significantly predicted both IC and working memory (WM) (P = 0.001). However, the direct impact of 24-h Movement Behaviors on FMS was not significant (P > 0.050). The interaction between FMS and overall, 24-h Movement Behaviors, along with their observed variables significantly promoted the positive development of children's EF (P < 0.050).

CONCLUSION

Within the 24-h Movement Behaviors framework, FMS did not exhibit its previously established mediating role. However, the interaction between FMS and 24-h Movement Behaviors positively promoted the development of children's EF. This suggests that FMS plays an important regulatory role in the relationship between 24-h Movement Behaviors and EF, which is significant for the overall development of children.