Reciprocal relationship between motor skills and executive functions in late childhood

Abstract

Although growing evidence points to a link between motor skills and executive functions, longitudinal associations during late childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to explore the bidirectional relationships between specific motor skill domains and executive function components. A total of 124 children (64 boys) were assessed at ages 9 and 11. Cross-lagged models revealed that total motor skills, particularly balance skills, predicted cognitive flexibility, while aiming and catching skills was associated with working memory. Conversely, cognitive flexibility predicted aiming and catching skills, and inhibitory control predicted balance skills. Latent change score models further indicated that baseline balance skills and cognitive flexibility each contribute to developmental changes in the other domain over time. In addition, changes in aiming and catching skills was associated with concurrent changes in working memory. Together, these findings highlight the reciprocal nature of motor and executive function development in late childhood and suggest interventions targeting one domain may yield benefits in the other.