Metacognitive process and levels of physical activity in university students

Background: Cognitive processes are associated with Systematic Physical Activity (SPA). However, few studies have evaluated the relation between SPA and Metacognition (MC). Objectives: (1) to study the effect of the SPA levels on MC, and (2) to explore the covariance of gender. Method: Through a Non-Experimental design and with intentional sampling, 270 university students participated (Mage= 25.3, SD= 1.5, min= 18, max= 51), 209 men (77.4%), and 61 women (22.6%). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and The Metacognitive Awareness Inventory were completed. The MANOVA showed that SPA levels significantly affected MC. The MANCOVA did not show a gender effect. Results: The main effects indicated that moderate and vigorous SPA levels favor MC. Differences were observed between the low vs vigorous SPA levels (p= .035, 95% CI [-1.49, -0.03]) in the knowledge of cognition factor. Similarly, there are differences in the regulation of cognition between low vs moderate SPA levels (p= .013, 95% CI [-1.86, -0.16]), and low vs vigorous (p= .044, 95% CI [-1.72 , -0.15]). Conclusions: moderate and vigorous SPA levels favor CM, mainly the regulation of cognition. In contrast, the vigorous SPA level favors the knowledge of cognition.