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Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of the 245 children (girls n = 121, boys n = 124) at baseline and follow up

From: Relationship of aerobic fitness and motor skills with memory and attention in preschoolers (Ballabeina): A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

 

Baseline

Follow up

p-value

Age and anthropometry

   

Age [years], mean (SD)

5.2 (0.6)

  

BMI [kg/m2], mean (SD)

15.8 (1.6)

15.9 (1.7)

0.05

Sociocultural characteristics

   

Migration background1, yes/no [%]

79/21

  

Foreign language spoken at home, yes/no [%]

41/59

  

Low parental education2, yes/no [%]

44/56

  

Physical fitness

   

Agility [s], mean (SD)

19.2 (4.5)

16.6 (3.2)

<0.001

Aerobic fitness [stages], mean (SD)

3.0 (1.4)

4.5 (1.7)

<0.001

Dynamic balance [steps], mean (SD)

2.4 (1.7)

3.0 (2.0)

<0.001

Cognition

   

Spatial working memory [no. of points], mean (SD)

3.6 (2.0)

4.8 (1.7)

<0.001

Attention score [standard nine values], mean (SD)

10.4 (2.3)

11.0 (2.1)

<0.01

  1. Mixed linear regression analyses with preschool class (cluster) as random factor. SD, standard deviation; s, seconds.
  2. 1 at least 1 parent born outside Switzerland vs. no parent born outside Switzerland
  3. 2 at least 1 parent with no education beyond mandatory school (9 year) vs. middle or high parental education
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BMC Pediatrics

ISSN: 1471-2431

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