Article ID: 1904
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of daily outdoor play with executive functions (working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition) separately for boys and girls in children aged 9 to 12 years.
Methods: Three hundred and fourteen children aged 9 to 12 years from 2 public primary schools participated in the study. Working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition were assessed by Digit Span Test, Trail Making Test, and Stroop Test, respectively, as measures of executive function. Frequency of outdoor play was assessed using self-reported questionnaire, then children were divided into two groups: low frequency group (children who play less than 3 days a week) and high frequency group (children who play 3 days a week or more). Confounding variables were grade, body mass index, and physical activity. Because children’s physical activity including outdoor play is gender-specific, analyses were run separately boys and girls.
Results: Linear regression analysis indicated that frequency of outdoor play was not significantly associated with any executive functions in boys, while frequent outdoor play was significantly associated only with better cognitive flexibility in girls [partial regression coefficient(B)=−8.90 (95% Confidence Interval: −16.97, −0.82)]. After adjusting Body Mass Index, physical activity, and grade, multiple linear regression analysis also indicated significant association of frequency of outdoor play with cognitive flexibility in girls [B=−10.76 (−19.42, −2.10)].
Conclusion: Frequency of outdoor play was significantly associated with cognitive flexibility in girls. Because this study indicated significant relation between outdoor play with cognitive flexibility, the importance of daily outdoor play was suggested especially in girls whose outdoor play is infrequent.
