scholarly journals Children Involved in Team Sports Show Superior Executive Function Compared to Their Peers Involved in Self-Paced Sports

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Silke De Waelle ◽  
Felien Laureys ◽  
Matthieu Lenoir ◽  
Simon J. Bennett ◽  
Frederik J.A. Deconinck
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Developmental Period ◽  
Organized Sports ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Childhood Physical Activity ◽  
Comprehensive Test ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity

Children’s motor and cognitive functions develop rapidly during childhood. Physical activity and executive function are intricately linked during this important developmental period, with physical activity interventions consistently proving to benefit children’s executive function. However, it is less clear which type of physical activity shows the strongest associations with executive function in children. Therefore, this study compared executive function performance of children aged 8 to 12 that either participated in team sports or self-paced sports or were not involved in any kind of organized sports (non-athletes). Results demonstrate that children participating in team sports show superior executive function compared to children participating in self-paced sports and non-athletes. Importantly, children participating in self-paced sports do not outperform non-athletes when it comes to executive function. This study is the first to show that even at a very young age, team sports athletes outperform athletes from self-paced sports as well as non-athletes on a multifaceted and comprehensive test battery for executive function. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that cognitively engaging physical activity, such as participation in team sports, might show stronger associations with executive functioning compared to other types of sports and physical activity.

Sport, physical activity, and other health behaviours

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stewart G Trost ◽  
Barbara Joschtel
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Organized Sports ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity ◽  
The Relationship

It is widely believed that participation in organized sports and physical activity offers protection against the negative social influences that can lead to problem behaviour and experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs. It also widely believed that youth who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to adopt other healthy lifestyle behaviours. This chapter critically evaluates these assertions by summarizing the empirical research evidence on the relationship between sport, physical activity, and nine other health behaviours in youth. It shows that sports participation and physical activity are indeed related to other health behaviours, but the strength and direction of the associations are dependent on the health behaviour under examination, the child’s age, gender, race/ethnicity, and the nature of the sport or physical activity.

scholarly journals Associations of participation in organized sports and physical activity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu Chen ◽  
Fanny Sellberg ◽  
Viktor H. Ahlqvist ◽  
Martin Neovius ◽  
Filip Christiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Organized Sports ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity

scholarly journals Associations of Participation in Organized Sports and Physical Activity in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu Chen ◽  
Fanny Sellberg ◽  
Viktor H. Ahlqvist ◽  
Martin Neovius ◽  
Filip Christiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Organized Sports ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity

Abstract Background Participation in organized sports is associated with higher physical activity (PA) levels in school-aged-children. Yet, little is known about PA determinants in preschool-aged-children. We examined associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ daily PA.Methods The study comprised 290 3–5 years old children and PA was measured for 1 week via accelerometers. Organized sports participation was parent-reported and preschool time was teacher-recorded. Linear mixed models, nested on preschool level, were used to examine associations between organized sports participation and children’s PA outside preschool time, during preschool time and throughout the day.Results In total, 146 children (50.3%) participated in organized sports at least 1 hour/week. Participation in organized sports was associated with 6.0 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (95% CI: 0.6, 11.3) throughout the day and 5.7 more minutes of MVPA (95% CI: 1.6, 9.7) outside preschool time after adjustment. There was no association between organized sports participation and PA during preschool time.Conclusions This is the first study to show positive associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ PA levels outside preschool time and throughout the day. In addition, findings from this study do not support PA compensation. Therefore, targeting organized sports may be successful in improving PA, even among preschoolers.

scholarly journals Examining the Acute Effects of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Breaks on Executive Functioning in 11- to 14-Year-Old Children: Single and Additive Moderation Effects of Physical Fitness

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Graham ◽  
Emily Bremer ◽  
Barbara Fenesi ◽  
John Cairney
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Psychological States ◽  
Post Test

Objective: Research supports the efficacy of acute, classroom-based, physical activity breaks on executive functioning in children. However, research pertaining to the effect of physical fitness on the acute physical activity—executive functioning relationship remains limited. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of classroom-based, teacher-delivered, physical activity breaks on executive functioning in 11–14-year-old children. We also investigated the potential moderating effects of both aerobic and musculoskeletal fitness on the acute physical activity—executive functioning relationship.Method: Participants (N = 116) completed pre- and post-test assessments of executive functioning (i.e., inhibition, switching, and updating) separated by a classroom-based physical activity break or sedentary classroom work. We manipulated the dose (i.e., length) and type of physical activity breaks. With regards to dose, participants in the experimental conditions engaged in 5-, 10-, or 20-min of physical activity whereas controls completed sedentary classroom math work at their desk. With regards to type, one experimental condition completed traditional physical activity breaks whereas the other experimental condition completed academic physical activity breaks (i.e., performed mental math and physical activity). Participants' mood, motivation, and self-efficacy were also assessed following the experimental manipulations.Results: Overall, executive function scores improved across each assessment following the physical activity breaks when compared to sedentary classroom work regardless of dose and type. Participants also reported more positive mood states, higher motivation to complete the executive function tests, and higher self-efficacy to perform the executive functions tests following the physical activity breaks. Single moderation analyses showed that low-moderate levels of aerobic fitness moderated the acute physical activity—executive functioning relationship. Additive moderation analysis showed, collectively, that both aerobic and musculoskeletal fitness moderated the acute physical activity—executive functioning relationship.Conclusion: Findings from the present study provide evidence for the acute effects of short (i.e., 5–20 min) classroom-based physical activity breaks on executive functioning and psychological states in children. Results also suggest levels of both aerobic and musculoskeletal fitness moderate these effects, however future research is needed to further elucidate this complex relationship.

scholarly journals Well-being and its relationship with sports and physical activity of students during the coronavirus pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Pietsch ◽  
Stefanie Linder ◽  
Petra Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sport Science ◽  
Sports Club ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity ◽  
Study Participants

AbstractThe main goal of this correlational study is to examine the changes in the amount and type of physical activity of students of various study programs during the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the motives for these changes as well as their relationship with general well-being are investigated. Therefore, 243 students (sport science, humanities, natural sciences) answered questions concerning (a) the amount and type of their physical activity before and during the pandemic, (b) their well-being and (c) their optimism/pessimism. The main result of the study is that the type and the motives for sports and physical activity changed for the study participants during the coronavirus pandemic: Team sports and swimming decreased, while individual sports and physical activity not associated with a sports club/business and with digital media increased. In this study the difference in sports and physical activity seemed to be related to well-being, especially for the students of sport science and humanities. To conclude the study indicated that a change occurred in the type of sports and physical activity as well as change in the motives for physical exercise in students during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Associations of participation in organized sports and physical activity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu Chen ◽  
Fanny Sellberg ◽  
Viktor H. Ahlqvist ◽  
Martin Neovius ◽  
Filip Christiansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mixed Models ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Organized Sports ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Sports And Physical Activity ◽  
Time Linear

Abstract Background Participation in organized sports is associated with higher physical activity (PA) levels in school-aged-children. Yet, little is known about PA determinants in preschool-aged-children. We examined associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ daily PA. Methods The study comprised 290 3-5 years old children and PA was measured for 1 week via accelerometers. Organized sports participation was parent-reported and preschool arrival and departure time was teacher-recorded. The preschool duration reported by teachers was matched with time-stamped accelerometer data to distinguish PA during preschool time and PA outside preschool time. Linear mixed models, nested on preschool level, were used to examine associations between organized sports participation and children’s PA outside preschool time, during preschool time and throughout the day. Results In total, 146 children (50.3%) participated in organized sports at least 1 hour/week. Participation in organized sports was associated with 6.0 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (95% CI: 0.6, 11.3) throughout the day and 5.7 more minutes of MVPA (95% CI: 1.6, 9.7) outside preschool time after adjustment. There was no association between organized sports participation and PA during preschool time. Conclusions This is the first study to show positive associations between organized sports participation and preschoolers’ PA levels outside preschool time and throughout the day. In addition, findings from this study do not support PA compensation. Therefore, targeting organized sports may be successful in improving PA, even among preschoolers.

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