Motor coordination mediates the relationship between physical activity and executive function among preschoolers

This cross-sectional study is to examine the association between motor coordination (MC) and executive function (EF) sub-domains and to test whether MC would mediate the effect on the association between different physical activity (PA) intensities and EF sub-domains. Following ethical approval, 401 preschoolers (boys 52%; 4.75 ± 0.77 years) were recruited for this study. The device measured PA with different intensities was assessed via wearing accelerometry for 7 days. MC was measured by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Second Edition. EF, including the sub-domains of working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, were assessed using cognitive-related tasks. Positive correlations between MC and three EF sub-domains were observed. Moreover, mediation analysis results indicated that MC was partially mediating the relationship between vigorous PA and working memory (indirect effect = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.007–0.057), inhibitory control (indirect effect = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.008–0.056) and cognitive flexibility (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.003–0.048). Furthermore, MC partially mediated the effects of moderate PA on working memory (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.0001-0.0469), inhibitory control (indirect effect = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.001–0.048), but not cognitive flexibility. However, no significant mediation effects were found between light PA and any sub-domain of EF. This study provided evidence that MC partially mediated the association between vigorous PA, moderate PA and some EF subdomains. It indicated the important role of MC in facilitating the development of EF in early childhood.