Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41833523›Full record

Observational studyChild: care, health and development2026

Relationships Among Activity, Motor Skill Performance and Executive Function in Preschool Children: Observational Report.

Alyssa M Button, Ethan Abbenante, Robbie Beyl, E Kipling Webster, Anthony Okely, Amanda E Staiano

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Child: care, health and development, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alyssa M ButtonPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1294-057X
Ethan AbbenantePennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1435-0218
Robbie BeylPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8582-744X
E Kipling WebsterUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4235-139X
Anthony OkelyUniversity of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1626-8170
Amanda E StaianoPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7846-046X

Funding

Tracking & Evaluation CoreU54GM104940 · NIGMS · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR · PI Peter Todd Katzmarzyk · 2012 to 2026
$69.1M
Research BaseP30DK072476 · NIDDK · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR · PI ROBERT A KESTERSON · 2005 to 2026
$26.5M
American Council on ExerciseCIHR Planning and Dissemination 392396NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK072476NIGMS NIH HHS U54 GM104940NIH HHS P30DK072476NIH HHS U54 GM104940University of Wollongong Australia
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExecutive functions are important for navigating daily demands and engaging in goal-driven behaviour. While these functions are associated with motor skills and activity in mid-to-late childhood, there is a paucity of available data among preschool ages. We hypothesized that child activity, motor skills and executive function would be associated among preschool-aged children.

methodsChildren aged 3-4 years wore an Actigraph GT3X+ for 7 days to assess activity levels. Product-oriented motor skills were assessed that measure balance, manual dexterity, agility, strength and coordination. The Early Years Toolbox was used to measure visual-spatial working memory via the Mr. Ant Task and inhibitory control using the Go/No-Go task. Pearson correlations evaluated associations among both physical activity and motor skill performance with executive function. N = 83 children provided data for the analytic sample.

resultsPositive relationships (p < 0.001) were observed among inhibitory control and visual-spatial working memory and standing long jump (r = 0.46, r = 0.28), one-legged balance (r = 0.36, r = 0.40) and grip strength (r = 0.41, r = 0.44). A negative relationship (p < 0.001) was observed between quicker STUG times and inhibitory control and visual-spatial working memory (r = -0.47, r = -0.48).

conclusionsThe bidirectional associations of motor competence and executive function are evident during this rapid time of development. Cognitive functions are required for concerted movement and inhibiting nongoal-directed movements, indicating that this is an important period to provide ample opportunities for learning.

Indexed as

Executive FunctionExerciseMotor SkillsActigraphyChild, PreschoolFemaleHand StrengthHumansInhibition, PsychologicalMaleMemory, Short-Termchild developmentinhibitory controlphysical activitysedentary behavioursleepvisual–spatial working memory

Identifiers

PMID41833523
PMCPMC13069829

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.