Physical activity (PA) is an essential health behaviour with a wide range of benefits, including the potential for a beneficial association with self-regulation and psychosocial well-being. However, evidence for this relationship remains scarce in the preschool age-group and in low-income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between self-regulation and psychosocial well-being on the one hand and objectively measured, free-living PA in 119 preschool children (M_age = 50.7 months, SD = 8.4) on the other from low-income settings in South Africa. PA was objectively measured using accelerometry and teacher-report ratings of self-regulation and psychosocial well-being were collected. Results revealed that time spent in both TPA (B = −0.233, p = 0.005) and MVPA (B = −0.181, p = 0.039) was negatively associated with self-regulation skills. Additionally, time spent in TPA (B = 0.180, p = 0.034) was positively (detrimentally) associated with externalising behaviour problems. This study suggests a negative association between self-regulation as well as externalising behaviour and PA, but also highlights the need for more comprehensive and longitudinal research in low and middle-income countries, taking into consideration the nature and context of free-living PA in these settings in order to better understand these relationships and their potential confounds.

身体活动（PA）是一种基本的健康行为，具有多种好处，包括与自我调节和社会心理福祉建立有益联系的潜力。但是，这种关系的证据在学龄前儿童和低收入国家仍然很少。因此，本研究旨在一方面检查自我调节与社会心理福祉之间的关系，另一方面客观地衡量119名学龄前儿童（M_年龄 = 50.7个月，SD = 8.4）的自由生活PA -南非的收入设置。使用加速度计客观地测量了PA，并收集了教师自我调节和社会心理幸福感的评级。结果显示，在两个TPA中花费的时间（B  = −0.233，p = 0.005）和MVPA（B  = −0.181，p  = 0.039）与自我调节能力呈负相关。另外，花在TPA上的时间（B  = 0.180，p  = 0.034）与外部行为问题正相关（有害）。这项研究表明自我调节以及外部行为和PA之间存在负相关关系，但同时也强调了低收入和中等收入国家需要进行更全面和纵向的研究，同时考虑到PA中的自由生活PA的性质和背景这些设置是为了更好地了解这些关系及其潜在的混杂因素。