Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls
IntroductionGross motor competence is positively associated with academic achievement in schoolchildren, potentially mediated by fitness and cognition. However, the extent to which these mediators contribute—and whether effects differ by sex—remains unclear. This study explored the mediating roles o...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha |
| Repositorio: | RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/47266 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47266 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | academic achievement boys girls mediating role of fitness and cognition motor competence |
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Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girlsFernández Sánchez, Antonio JoséRuiz de la Hermosa Fernández Infante, AbelRedondo Tébar, AndrésDíez Fernández, AnaMartínez Vizcaíno, Vicente José AnastasioVisier Alfonso, María EugeniaSánchez López, Mairenaacademic achievementboysgirlsmediating role of fitness and cognitionmotor competenceIntroductionGross motor competence is positively associated with academic achievement in schoolchildren, potentially mediated by fitness and cognition. However, the extent to which these mediators contribute—and whether effects differ by sex—remains unclear. This study explored the mediating roles of specific fitness components and executive function in the relationship between gross motor competence and academic achievement, considering sex differences.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 562 Spanish schoolchildren aged 9–11 years (293 girls). Gross motor competence was evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition; fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, speed/agility, upper and lower body strength) through the ALPHA-Fitness test battery; executive function using the NIH Toolbox Battery; and academic achievement from school grades in language and mathematics. Serial multiple mediation models were applied using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, adjusted for age, BMI, and maternal education level. Analyses were conducted for the total sample and by sex.ResultsBoth fitness and executive function partially mediated the relationship between gross motor competence and academic achievement. In the total sample, direct effects explained most of the association (51–73%), followed by the cognitive pathway (20–31%), fitness pathway (11–19%), and multiple pathway—gross motor competence, fitness, executive function, and academic achievement—(4–9%). Sex-specific analyses showed that cognitive mediation was predominant in boys, accounting for over half of the total effect (56–69%), with no direct effect observed. In contrast, fitness mediation was more relevant in girls, especially through cardiorespiratory fitness and speed/agility, each contributing up to 20% of the effect. The multiple pathway was also significant in girls.ConclusionsEnhancing motor competence may improve academic outcomes, partly through gains in fitness and executive function. These findings support implementing integrated school programs, tailored to sex-specific needs—emphasizing cognitively engaging activities for boys and fitness-focused strategies for girls. The cross-sectional design implies association, not causality.PLOS202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314948https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314948https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47266reponame:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLMinstname:Universidad de Castilla-La ManchaInglésel Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI16/01919) financió este estudiofinanciación adicional de la Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud (RD12/0005/0009)Beca Margarita Salas a través de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha “Next Generation EU” (2021-MS-20547)Beca Margarita Salas a través de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha “Next Generation EU” (2022-POST-21124)info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/472662026-05-27T07:36:41Z |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| title |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| spellingShingle |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls Fernández Sánchez, Antonio José academic achievement boys girls mediating role of fitness and cognition motor competence |
| title_short |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| title_full |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| title_fullStr |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| title_sort |
Relation between motor competence and academic achievement: The mediating role of fitness and cognition in boys and girls |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Fernández Sánchez, Antonio José Ruiz de la Hermosa Fernández Infante, Abel Redondo Tébar, Andrés Díez Fernández, Ana Martínez Vizcaíno, Vicente José Anastasio Visier Alfonso, María Eugenia Sánchez López, Mairena |
| author |
Fernández Sánchez, Antonio José |
| author_facet |
Fernández Sánchez, Antonio José Ruiz de la Hermosa Fernández Infante, Abel Redondo Tébar, Andrés Díez Fernández, Ana Martínez Vizcaíno, Vicente José Anastasio Visier Alfonso, María Eugenia Sánchez López, Mairena |
| author_role |
author |
| author2 |
Ruiz de la Hermosa Fernández Infante, Abel Redondo Tébar, Andrés Díez Fernández, Ana Martínez Vizcaíno, Vicente José Anastasio Visier Alfonso, María Eugenia Sánchez López, Mairena |
| author2_role |
author author author author author author |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
academic achievement boys girls mediating role of fitness and cognition motor competence |
| topic |
academic achievement boys girls mediating role of fitness and cognition motor competence |
| description |
IntroductionGross motor competence is positively associated with academic achievement in schoolchildren, potentially mediated by fitness and cognition. However, the extent to which these mediators contribute—and whether effects differ by sex—remains unclear. This study explored the mediating roles of specific fitness components and executive function in the relationship between gross motor competence and academic achievement, considering sex differences.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 562 Spanish schoolchildren aged 9–11 years (293 girls). Gross motor competence was evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition; fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness, speed/agility, upper and lower body strength) through the ALPHA-Fitness test battery; executive function using the NIH Toolbox Battery; and academic achievement from school grades in language and mathematics. Serial multiple mediation models were applied using the PROCESS macro in SPSS, adjusted for age, BMI, and maternal education level. Analyses were conducted for the total sample and by sex.ResultsBoth fitness and executive function partially mediated the relationship between gross motor competence and academic achievement. In the total sample, direct effects explained most of the association (51–73%), followed by the cognitive pathway (20–31%), fitness pathway (11–19%), and multiple pathway—gross motor competence, fitness, executive function, and academic achievement—(4–9%). Sex-specific analyses showed that cognitive mediation was predominant in boys, accounting for over half of the total effect (56–69%), with no direct effect observed. In contrast, fitness mediation was more relevant in girls, especially through cardiorespiratory fitness and speed/agility, each contributing up to 20% of the effect. The multiple pathway was also significant in girls.ConclusionsEnhancing motor competence may improve academic outcomes, partly through gains in fitness and executive function. These findings support implementing integrated school programs, tailored to sex-specific needs—emphasizing cognitively engaging activities for boys and fitness-focused strategies for girls. The cross-sectional design implies association, not causality. |
| publishDate |
2025 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2025 2026 2026 |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
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article |
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47266 |
| url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314948 https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47266 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv |
Inglés |
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Inglés |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv |
el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI16/01919) financió este estudio financiación adicional de la Red de Investigación en Actividades Preventivas y Promoción de la Salud (RD12/0005/0009) Beca Margarita Salas a través de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha “Next Generation EU” (2021-MS-20547) Beca Margarita Salas a través de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha “Next Generation EU” (2022-POST-21124) |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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openAccess |
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application/pdf application/pdf |
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PLOS |
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PLOS |
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reponame:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM instname:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha |
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Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha |
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