Connections among family socioeconomic status, aerobic fitness, executive function, and the positive experiences of childhood physical activity

Derek R Becker; Sarah F Pedonti; Cathy Grist; Myra Watson

doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106147

Connections among family socioeconomic status, aerobic fitness, executive function, and the positive experiences of childhood physical activity

J Exp Child Psychol. 2024 Dec 27:252:106147. doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106147. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Derek R Becker¹, Sarah F Pedonti², Cathy Grist², Myra Watson²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Services, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA. Electronic address: drbecker@wcu.edu.
² Department of Human Services, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA.

PMID: 39732027
DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106147

Abstract

A family's socioeconomic status (SES) can be linked to a child's physical and cognitive health, with children from low-SES families often experiencing poor developmental outcomes. Early positive childhood experiences that include structured and unstructured physical activities (SUPAs) offer a potential avenue to promote positive health and cognitive development during early childhood. However, prior to school entry, it is not well-understood whether SES is related to participation in SUPAs or how SUPAs relate to early health and cognitive indicators such as aerobic fitnessand executive function (EF). Children (N = 99) aged 3 to 5 years were recruited from 17 classrooms in seven center-based pre-kindergartens. In fall and spring, children were assessed on EF using the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task and aerobic fitness was assessed with the 20-m shuttle run test. Family SES significantly predicted SUPAs and fall and spring fitness, with SUPAs and spring fitness significantly predicting spring EF. Partial support for an indirect relationship between SES and EF through SUPAs was also found. Results suggest that family SES could play a role in predicting participation in SUPAs and aerobic fitness, with SUPAs and aerobic fitness linked to EF during pre-kindergarten.

Keywords: Aerobic fitness; Executive function; Family socioeconomic status; Positive childhood experiences; Structured and unstructured physical activities.