Table 1 Descriptive characteristics
From: Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children
Variables | Girls (n = 30) | Boys (n = 31) | Total (N = 61) | p (Cohen’s d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Between group differences | |
Age and anthropometry | ||||
Age (years) | 4.5 ± 0.6 | 4.5 ± 0.7 | 4.5 ± 0.6 | 0.769 (0.06) |
Age (months) | 57.9 ± 7.5 | 59.6 ± 7.2 | 58.7 ± 7.3 | 0.413 (0.21) |
Body height (cm) | 109.5 ± 6.3 | 112.0 ± 4.9 | 110.8 ± 5.7 | 0.089 (0.45) |
Body mass (kg) | 19.3 ± 3.2 | 19.2 ± 2.2 | 19.2 ± 2.7 | 0.874 (0.04) |
BMI (kg/m2) | 16.0 ± 1.5 | 15.2 ± 1.1 | 15.6 ± 1.4 | 0.033 (0.57) |
Physical fitness | ||||
Single-leg stance (max. 30 s) | 13.6 ± 8.5 | 11.3 ± 8.0 | 12.5 ± 8.3 | 0.286 (0.29) |
Standing long jump (cm) | 77.8 ± 16.7 | 78.7 ± 22.4 | 78.3 ± 19.7 | 0.874 (0.04) |
Hopping on right leg (max. 20) | 14.3 ± 6.9 | 11.9 ± 7.7 | 13.2 ± 7.3 | 0.210 (0.33) |
Hopping on left leg (max. 20) | 12.7 ± 7.0 | 12.7 ± 7.5 | 12.7 ± 7.2 | 0.992 (0.01) |
Composite score (coordination) | 0.1 ± 0.9 | − 0.1 ± 0.9 | − 0.001 ± 0.9 | 0.454 (0.20) |
Handgrip strength (kg) | 7.1 ± 1.5 | 7.5 ± 1.9 | 7.3 ± 1.7 | 0.350 (0.25) |
Composite score (physical fitness)* | 0.02 ± 0.7 | − 0.07 ± 0.9 | − 0.02 ± 0.8 | 0.654 (0.11) |
Cognitive performance | ||||
Sorting time KHV-VK (in min) | 7.2 ± 1.6 | 6.9 ± 2.0 | 7.1 ± 1.9 | 0.455 (0.20) |
Correct cards KHV-VK (number) | 30.6 ± 8.2 | 31.1 ± 6.8 | 30.9 ± 7.4 | 0.823 (0.06) |
Composite score (attention) | − 0.1 ± 0.8 | 0.1 ± 0.7 | 0.00 ± 0.76 | 0.526 (0.17) |