Individual Differences in Lifestyle Factors and the Effects of Acute Exercise on Executive Functioning in Children and Youth with ADHD
Abstract
Acute exercise interventions can improve executive functioning among children and youth with ADHD, however not all individuals experience the same benefit. We focused on three lifestyle factors (medication use, physical fitness, and physical activity behaviours) and their impact on the relationship between acute exercise and executive functioning. Participants completed a battery of executive functioning measures, followed by a 10-minute bout of moderate-intensity stationary biking (experimental condition), or silent reading (control condition). The same battery of assessments was re-administered immediately after the intervention and after a 10-minute delay. Overall, regardless of medication status, physical fitness level, or physical activity behaviours, an acute bout of exercise had similar effects on executive functioning outcomes. However, the pattern of data suggests that physical fitness level may influence the relationship between exercise and executive functioning. However, further research with a larger sample size is needed to unravel this issue.