Do different cognitive domains mediate the association between moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and adolescents’ off‐task behaviour in the classroom?

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that adolescents’ moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with less off‐task behaviour in the classroom. However, the contribution of cognitive functions to this relation still remains unclear. Executive function and aspects of social cognition, which appear to be correlated with MVPA, have been found to determine academic behaviours. AIM: This study examines the direct association between MVPA and off‐task behaviour as well as mediations by different cognitive domains. SAMPLE: Forty‐six‐male and 67‐female adolescents aged 13.0 ± 1.3 years were recruited from local schools. METHODS: Participants recalled their MVPA. Using video cameras, their classroom behaviours were recorded and a 6‐min period was rated for off‐task behaviour. Additionally, participants completed a modified Flanker task, which assessed both inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, a Sternberg paradigm, which assessed working memory, and an Emotion Recognition task. RESULTS: Path‐analyses revealed that higher MVPA was associated with less off‐task behaviour. Inhibitory control accounted for a partial mediation of this association. The mediating role of inhibitory control was most pronounced for the relation between MVPA and off‐task behaviours related to noise. CONCLUSION: These findings provide a first indication that curricular and extracurricular physical activities targeting specific improvements in inhibitory control may promise transfer effects to classroom behaviours.