The Role of Physical Activity on Executive Functions Among Youth in Poverty

In this study, I sought to find the role of physical activity on executive functions among youth in poverty. In order to assess this phenomenon, executive functions (cognitive flexibility, inhibition, & working memory), and physical activity were measured among participants (N = 149) in the 5th-8th grade from three schools located in high poverty districts in the Northeast and the Southwest United States. Pearson moment correlations revealed a statistically significant correlation between physical activity and cognitive flexibility (r = 0.18, p < 0.05), but no significant correlations between physical activity and inhibition and working memory. A two-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was utilized to further assess mean differences between activity status on executive functions. The results revealed statistically significant differences in working memory among more active youth in poverty compared to less active youth, but no statistically significant differences in cognitive flexibility or inhibition (p < 0.05). In conclusion, greater physical activity is associated with greater working memory, particularly among youth in poverty, which has implications for health, education and life outcomes.