Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Προπονητική ΑθλημάτωνLibrary of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science
Author:
Kantzas Andreas Angelos
Supervisors info:
Βενετσάνου Φωτεινή, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Σ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Σταύρου Νεκτάριος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Σ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Καμπάς Αντώνιος, Καθηγητής, Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α., Δ.Π.Θ.
Original Title:
Διερεύνηση της σχέσης ανάμεσα στην ενασχόληση με βιντεοπαιχνίδια, τις επιτελικές λειτουργιές και τη φυσική δραστηριότητα σε παιδιά 8-12 ετών
Translated title:
Investigation of the relation between time using video games, executive functions, and physical activity in 8– 12-year-old children
Summary:
The important role of physical activity (PA) and executive functions (EF) to children’s health and development is well established. However, the recent rise of time spent using video games (tVG), raises concerns regarding its potential association with the aforementioned parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between tVG, PA, and EF in children 8-12 years of age. A secondary objective was to examine the possible associations of tVG and children’s (a) age, (b) gender and (c) body mass index (BMI). A total of 249 students 8-12 years old (M=9.7±1.1 years) participated in the study. The Video-Gaming Scale - For Children was used to estimate tVG; whereas, PA was recorded with ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers worn for seven days. Regarding student’s EF, inhibition control (IC) was assessed with the Attention Network Test, cognitive flexibility (CF) with the “How many – What number” task and working memory (WM) with the Digits Backwards task. The possible associations between students’ tVG and their (a) age and BMI and (b) PA and EF were examined using correlation analysis, while the potential differences in tVG between genders were examined with a t-test. No significant correlation emerged between student’s tVG and their age or BMI, whereas tVG differences between genders were insignificant. Finally, the correlation analysis among tVG, PA, and EF revealed only a weak positive correlation (r= .147, p< .05) between students’ PA and their reaction time in congruent trials of the IC task. From the above it can be concluded that, in children 8-12 years of age, tVG is not related to PA or EF, suggesting that these factors function independently from one another. However, the extremely short amount of relative research indicates the need for further investigation, for definitive conclusions to be made.
Main subject category:
Education - Sport science
Keywords:
sedentary behaviors, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, developmental ages
Number of references:
516
