INVESTIGATING HOW CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION SHAPE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN PREADOLESCENT CHILDREN

Background: Psychological well-being (PWB) is a key factor in child development, involving mental, emotional, and social health. The World Health Organization reports that 13% of children globally face mental health issues, with an Indian prevalence of 7.3%. While cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognitive function independently support mental health, their combined influence on PWB in preadolescents remains unclear. Objective: Methods: To examine the associations between CRF, cognitive function, and psychological well-being in 10-year-old children. An observational study was conducted involving 100 fifth-grade students aged 10 years. Psychological well-being (PWB) by Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was measured using the PACER test, and cognitive function by the D2 Test of Attention. Data were analyzed using correlation and regression. Higher PWB correlated to better cognitive score Results: s but lower CRF. Attention accuracy was the strongest predictor of PWB. CRF and cognitive function explained 46% of PWB variance. Balanc Conclusion: ed physical and cognitive engagement is essential for enhancing PWB in children.