Motor competence moderates relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity and resting EEG in children with ADHD

Wong

et al. 2022

Front. Pediatr.

This study examined the mediating role of sleep in the relationship between physical activity and executive function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fifty-six children with ADHD were recruited from Shenzhen Children's Hospital. Participants wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days to measure physical activity and sleep quality. Activity counts were analyzed to measure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Four sleep parameters, including sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wake after sleep onset were recorded from the actigraph. Three core executive functions, inhibitory control; working memory (WM); and cognitive flexibility (CF), were assessed from computer-based tasks: the flanker task, and the Tower of London and Trail Making Tests, respectively. The regression results showed that MVPA was negatively associated with SL (−0.169; 95%CI [−0.244, −0.112]). WM (total scores) was positively related to MVPA (0.028, 95%CI [0.008, 0.048]), but negatively related to SL (−0.105, 95%CI [−0.167, −0.030]). CF (part B errors) was negatively associated with MVPA (−0.031, 95%CI [−0.055, −0.005]) and positively correlated with SL (0.184, 95%CI [0.092, −0.260]). The indirect effect of SL was found for MVPA and WM (0.018, 95%CI [0.015, 0.034]), supporting the indirect partial mediation. Similarly, the indirect effect of SL was found between MVPA and CF (−0.031, 95%CI [−0.060, −0.012]), supporting the indirect partial mediation. The mediating role of SL in children with ADHD suggests that the intensity of physical activity plays a key role in linking sleep quality and executive function in this group.

Section: Pa Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity and Executive Function in Children With ADHD: The Mediating Role of Sleep

Wong

et al. 2022

Front. Pediatr.

“…Children's PA levels were assessed via an accelerometer (GT3X model; ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL), an objective and widely used PA measure among children with ADHD. 32,33 All participants were asked to wear the accelerometer around the non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days (i.e., five weekdays and two weekend days), follow their daily routines, and remove the accelerometer only for bathing or swimming. A logbook was provided to their parents to record wearing/taking-off time for water activities.…”

Section: Physical Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The mediating role of resilience in the association between MVPA and psychological ill‐being in children with ADHD

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

Qiu

Sit

2022

Purpose This study investigated the mediating role of resilience in the association between moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and psychological ill‐being, as well as the moderating role of age in the direct and indirect relationship between MVPA and psychological ill‐being in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Eighty‐five children aged 6–12 years (Mage = 8.41 ± 1.44 years) diagnosed with ADHD were recruited. Participants wore an accelerometer on their non‐dominant wrist for seven consecutive days to record MVPA. Resilience and psychological ill‐being were assessed using self‐reported questionnaires. Results MVPA was positively associated with resilience but negatively related to depression and stress. Resilience was negatively correlated with depression and stress. Using the bootstrapping method, the indirect effect of resilience was found between MVPA and depression (−0.006%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−0.060, −0.020]) in children with ADHD, supporting partial mediation. Moderated mediation analysis further demonstrated that the indirect effect of MVPA on depression via resilience was stronger in older children (−0.008, 95% CI = [−0.023, −0.001]) than in younger children with ADHD. Conclusion The findings may inform future empirical studies on designing exercise interventions with MVPA levels that help to improve resilience and depression in children with ADHD.

“…Primarily, ADHD is associated with age-inappropriate behaviours, including hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention [ 4 ]. Executive dysfunction is an endophenotype of ADHD symptoms [ 5 ], yielding co-occurring medical and psychiatric illnesses [ 6 ], including behavioural sleep problems [ 7 ], physical inactivity [ 8 ], motor abnormalities, and impairments [ 9 ]. If individuals with ADHD do not receive effective interventions during childhood, ADHD symptoms and impairments will span into adulthood [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of exercise interventions concerning executive functions of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

Wong

et al. 2021

Background Previous studies found that exercise interventions have positive effects on executive functions of the general population. However, studies seldom target executive functions of children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to synthesise empirical studies regarding the effects of exercise interventions on executive functions of children and adolescents with ADHD. Methods A systematic search of the relevant literature was conducted in March 2020 through six electronic databases: CINAHL Complete, Eric, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, and Web of Science. Randomised controlled trials/quasi-experimental designs that applied exercise interventions and assessed executive functions through neurocognitive tasks among children and adolescents with ADHD were included. Altogether, 314 studies were identified, from which 31 full texts were independently assessed by two authors for eligibility. Finally, 21 studies underwent systematic reviews and 15 were selected for meta-analysis. Data extraction procedures and risk of bias analysis were conducted by two independent authors using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Results The findings indicated that exercise interventions improved overall executive functions of children and adolescents with ADHD (SMD = 0.611, 95% CI [0.386 to 0.836], p < 0.01). Exercise interventions had a moderate-to-large positive effect on inhibitory control (g = 0.761, 95% CI [0.376 to 1.146], p < 0.01) and cognitive flexibility (g = 0.780, 95% CI [0.331 to 1.228], p < 0.001). Likewise, during the subgroup analysis, intervention intensity and sessions of exercise (acute vs chronic) significantly moderated exercise intervention rather than intervention type. Conclusions Chronic sessions of exercise interventions with moderate intensity should be incorporated as treatment for children with ADHD to promote executive functions.