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. 2023 Feb 3;20(3):2728.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032728.

How Do Health, Biological, Behavioral, and Cognitive Variables Interact over Time in Children of Both Sexes? A Complex Systems Approach

Elenice de Sousa Pereira  1 , Mabliny Thuany  2 , Paulo Felipe Ribeiro Bandeira  3   4 , Thayse Natacha Q F Gomes  5   6   7 , Fernanda Karina Dos Santos  1
Affiliations

How Do Health, Biological, Behavioral, and Cognitive Variables Interact over Time in Children of Both Sexes? A Complex Systems Approach

Elenice de Sousa Pereira et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The present study examined gender differences in health, physical activity, physical fitness, real and perceived motor competence, and executive function indicators in three time points, and analyzed the dynamic and non-linear association between health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables in children followed over time. A total of 67 children (aged between six and 10 years) were followed during two years and split into two cohorts (six to eight years old: C1; eight to 10 years old: C2). Data regarding health, physical activity, real and perceived motor competence, physical fitness, and executive function indicators were obtained according to their respective protocols. Comparison tests and network analysis were estimated. Significant gender differences were found in both cohorts. The emerged networks indicated different topologies in both cohorts. No clusters were observed between the variables in C1, and there was a greater number of interactions at eight years of age. Sparse networks were observed in children aged eight and 10 years in C2, and greater connectivity was observed at nine years of age between health, physical fitness, motor competence, and physical activity indicators. This study showed that there are non-linear dynamic relationships between health, biological, behavioral, and cognitive variables over time during child development.

Keywords: childhood; cognition; complex systems; fundamental motor skills; growth and development; health; physical activity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Network of associations between physical activity, physical fitness, real and perceived motor competence, and executive function, considering the sex and health variables of cohort 1. Legend: 1 = sex; 2 = WHtR; 3 = BFP; 4 = hand grip strength; 5 = abdominal resistance; 6 = upper limb strength; 7 = velocity; 8 = lower limb strength; 9 = flexibility; 10 = agility; 11 = cardiorespiratory fitness; 12 = physical activity (steps); 13 = physical activity (score); 14 = locomotion skill; 15 = object control skill; 16 = perceived motor competence; 17 = inhibitory control; 18 = cognitive flexibility; and 19 = working memory.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphical representation of the centrality indicators of cohort 1.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Network of associations between physical activity, physical fitness, real and perceived motor competence, and executive function, considering the sex and health variables of cohort 2. Legend: 1 = sex; 2 = WHtR; 3 = BFP; 4 = hand grip strength; 5 = abdominal resistance; 6 = upper limb strength; 7 = velocity; 8 = lower limb strength; 9 = flexibility; 10 = agility; 11 = cardiorespiratory fitness; 12 = physical activity (steps); 13 = physical activity (score); 14 = locomotion skill; 15 = object control skill; 16 = perceived motor competence; 17 = inhibitory control; 18 = cognitive flexibility; and 19 = working memory.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Graphical representation of the centrality indicators of cohort 2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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