title: Skill-related physical fitness versus aerobic fitness as a predictor of executive functioning in children with intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning.
abstract: Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) or borderline intellectual disabilities (BIF) often demonstrate impairments in executive functioning (EF). Studies in typically developing children show that aerobic fitness (AF) is positively related with EF. Skill-related physical fitness (SF) might, however, be a stronger predictor of EF than AF, as cognitive challenges are inherent in application of these skills. In this study, AF and SF were examined simultaneously in relationship with domains of EF in children with ID or BIF. Seventy-three children (age range 8-11; 51 boys) with ID (IQ range 56-79) or BIF (IQ range 71-79) were measured annually over a period of 4 years on AF (20-m endurance shuttle run test) and SF (plate tapping and 10×5m run). EF was measured with the Stroop Color-Word test (inhibition), Trailmaking and Fluency test (cognitive flexibility), Self-ordered pointing task (working memory) and the Tower of London (planning). Multilevel models showed that SF was significantly associated with inhibition and both measures of cognitive flexibility, but in the same models no significant associations between AF and EF were found. In addition, age was significantly related to working memory and cognitive flexibility, favouring the older children. In children with ID or BIF, SF is of greater importance than AF in relationship with core domains of EF.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Section F, P. O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.hartman@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Section F, P. O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.smith@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: s.houwen@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houwen
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Section F, P. O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.visscher@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Visscher
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009426:Netherlands; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Aerobic fitness; Borderline intellectual functioning; Executive functioning; Intellectual disability; Skill-related physical fitness