The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children

Rune Rasmussen Lind; Thomas Rostgaard Andersen; Mikkel Malling Beck; Mads Madsen; Esben Elholm Madsen; Jesper Lundbye-Jensen; Svend Sparre Geertsen; Peter Krustrup; Malte Nejst Larsen

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children

Rune Rasmussen Lind
, Thomas Rostgaard Andersen
, Mikkel Malling Beck
, Mads Madsen
, Esben Elholm Madsen
, Jesper Lundbye-Jensen
, Svend Sparre Geertsen
, Peter Krustrup
, Malte Nejst Larsen

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between exercise capacity, body composition, demographic characteristics, well-being dimensions, and leisure-time sports background with cognitive performance in children aged 10-12 years.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2470 Danish schoolchildren aged 10-12. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery, measuring psychomotor function, attention, working memory, and visual learning. Exercise capacity was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Children's Test (YYIR1C). Body composition, including BMI, fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage, was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Well-being was measured using a modified KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire, and demographic characteristics and leisure-time sports background data were collected via self-reports. Linear mixed regression models were applied, adjusting for school-class as a random effect.

RESULTS: Higher exercise capacity was significantly associated with better cognitive performance across all domains (p < 0.05). Boys exhibited faster reaction times in psychomotor function, attention, and working memory tasks (p < 0.001), while no sex differences were observed in visual learning (p = 0.684). School well-being positively correlated with attention and working memory performance, but no associations were found with other well-being dimensions. Body composition (BMI, fat percentage, muscle mass) and leisure-time sports background were not associated with cognitive performance.

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity, but not body composition or sports participation, emerged as a key predictor of cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, rather than body composition or sports background, is a general predictor of cognitive performance in children. School well-being and sex also influenced cognitive test performance, highlighting the importance of considering both physical and psychological factors.

Original language	English
Article number	106339
Journal	Early Human Development
Volume	209
Pages (from-to)	1-6
Number of pages	6
ISSN	0378-3782
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025

Keywords

Cogstate Brief Battery
Inbody270
KIDSSCREEN-27
psychomotor function
Task and Ego Orientation in Sports Questionnaire
visual learning
working memory
Yo-Yo IR1C

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10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

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Lind, R. R., Andersen, T. R., Beck, M. M., Madsen, M., Madsen, E. E., Lundbye-Jensen, J., Geertsen, S. S., Krustrup, P., & Larsen, M. N. (2025). The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children. Early Human Development, 209, 1-6. Article 106339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children. / Lind, Rune Rasmussen; Andersen, Thomas Rostgaard; Beck, Mikkel Malling et al.
In: Early Human Development, Vol. 209, 106339, 10.2025, p. 1-6.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Lind, RR, Andersen, TR, Beck, MM, Madsen, M, Madsen, EE, Lundbye-Jensen, J, Geertsen, SS, Krustrup, P & Larsen, MN 2025, 'The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children', Early Human Development, vol. 209, 106339, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

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title = "The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between exercise capacity, body composition, demographic characteristics, well-being dimensions, and leisure-time sports background with cognitive performance in children aged 10-12 years.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2470 Danish schoolchildren aged 10-12. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery, measuring psychomotor function, attention, working memory, and visual learning. Exercise capacity was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Children's Test (YYIR1C). Body composition, including BMI, fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage, was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Well-being was measured using a modified KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire, and demographic characteristics and leisure-time sports background data were collected via self-reports. Linear mixed regression models were applied, adjusting for school-class as a random effect.RESULTS: Higher exercise capacity was significantly associated with better cognitive performance across all domains (p < 0.05). Boys exhibited faster reaction times in psychomotor function, attention, and working memory tasks (p < 0.001), while no sex differences were observed in visual learning (p = 0.684). School well-being positively correlated with attention and working memory performance, but no associations were found with other well-being dimensions. Body composition (BMI, fat percentage, muscle mass) and leisure-time sports background were not associated with cognitive performance.CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity, but not body composition or sports participation, emerged as a key predictor of cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, rather than body composition or sports background, is a general predictor of cognitive performance in children. School well-being and sex also influenced cognitive test performance, highlighting the importance of considering both physical and psychological factors.",

keywords = "Cogstate Brief Battery, Inbody270, KIDSSCREEN-27, psychomotor function, Task and Ego Orientation in Sports Questionnaire, visual learning, working memory, Yo-Yo IR1C",

author = "Lind, \{Rune Rasmussen\} and Andersen, \{Thomas Rostgaard\} and Beck, \{Mikkel Malling\} and Mads Madsen and Madsen, \{Esben Elholm\} and Jesper Lundbye-Jensen and Geertsen, \{Svend Sparre\} and Peter Krustrup and Larsen, \{Malte Nejst\}",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339",

language = "English",

volume = "209",

pages = "1--6",

journal = "Early Human Development",

issn = "0378-3782",

publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

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T1 - The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance

T2 - A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children

AU - Lind, Rune Rasmussen

AU - Andersen, Thomas Rostgaard

AU - Beck, Mikkel Malling

AU - Madsen, Mads

AU - Madsen, Esben Elholm

AU - Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper

AU - Geertsen, Svend Sparre

AU - Krustrup, Peter

AU - Larsen, Malte Nejst

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between exercise capacity, body composition, demographic characteristics, well-being dimensions, and leisure-time sports background with cognitive performance in children aged 10-12 years.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2470 Danish schoolchildren aged 10-12. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery, measuring psychomotor function, attention, working memory, and visual learning. Exercise capacity was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Children's Test (YYIR1C). Body composition, including BMI, fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage, was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Well-being was measured using a modified KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire, and demographic characteristics and leisure-time sports background data were collected via self-reports. Linear mixed regression models were applied, adjusting for school-class as a random effect.RESULTS: Higher exercise capacity was significantly associated with better cognitive performance across all domains (p < 0.05). Boys exhibited faster reaction times in psychomotor function, attention, and working memory tasks (p < 0.001), while no sex differences were observed in visual learning (p = 0.684). School well-being positively correlated with attention and working memory performance, but no associations were found with other well-being dimensions. Body composition (BMI, fat percentage, muscle mass) and leisure-time sports background were not associated with cognitive performance.CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity, but not body composition or sports participation, emerged as a key predictor of cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, rather than body composition or sports background, is a general predictor of cognitive performance in children. School well-being and sex also influenced cognitive test performance, highlighting the importance of considering both physical and psychological factors.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between exercise capacity, body composition, demographic characteristics, well-being dimensions, and leisure-time sports background with cognitive performance in children aged 10-12 years.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2470 Danish schoolchildren aged 10-12. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery, measuring psychomotor function, attention, working memory, and visual learning. Exercise capacity was evaluated using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Children's Test (YYIR1C). Body composition, including BMI, fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage, was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Well-being was measured using a modified KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire, and demographic characteristics and leisure-time sports background data were collected via self-reports. Linear mixed regression models were applied, adjusting for school-class as a random effect.RESULTS: Higher exercise capacity was significantly associated with better cognitive performance across all domains (p < 0.05). Boys exhibited faster reaction times in psychomotor function, attention, and working memory tasks (p < 0.001), while no sex differences were observed in visual learning (p = 0.684). School well-being positively correlated with attention and working memory performance, but no associations were found with other well-being dimensions. Body composition (BMI, fat percentage, muscle mass) and leisure-time sports background were not associated with cognitive performance.CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity, but not body composition or sports participation, emerged as a key predictor of cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, rather than body composition or sports background, is a general predictor of cognitive performance in children. School well-being and sex also influenced cognitive test performance, highlighting the importance of considering both physical and psychological factors.

KW - Cogstate Brief Battery

KW - Inbody270

KW - KIDSSCREEN-27

KW - psychomotor function

KW - Task and Ego Orientation in Sports Questionnaire

KW - visual learning

KW - working memory

KW - Yo-Yo IR1C

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010500266

U2 - 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

DO - 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106339

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 40669100

SN - 0378-3782

VL - 209

SP - 1

EP - 6

JO - Early Human Development

JF - Early Human Development

M1 - 106339

ER -

The influence of physical, psychological and sociocultural factors on cognitive performance: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis in 10-12-year-old Danish children

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Keywords

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