Construct and correlates of basic motor competencies in primary school-aged children

Background: A central aim of physical education is the promotion of basic motor competencies (in German: Motorische Basiskompetenzen; MOBAK), which are prerequisites for children’s active participation in sports culture. This article introduces the MOBAK-1 test instrument for 6- to 8-year-old children and determines the construct validity of this test instrument. In addition, the relationship between MOBAK and motor ability (i.e., strength) as well as body mass index (BMI), sex, and age is investigated. Methods: We analyzed data of 923 first and second graders (422 girls, 501 boys, age = 6.80 +/- 0.44 years). The children’s basic motor competencies were assessed by the MOBAK-1 test instrument. Besides analyses of frequency, correlation, and variance, 3 confirmatory factor analyses with covariates were performed. Results: We found 2 MOBAK factors consisting of 4 items each. The first factor, locomotion, included the items balancing, rolling, jumping, and side stepping; the second factor, object control, included the items throwing, catching, bouncing, and dribbling. The motor ability strength had a significant influence on the factors locomotion (β = 0.60) and object control (β = 0.50). Older pupils achieved better results than younger pupils on object control (β = 0.29). Boys performed better on object control (β = -0.44), whereas girls achieved better results in locomotion (β = 0.07). Pupils with a high BMI achieved lower performance only on the factor locomotion (β = -0.28). Conclusion: The MOBAK-1 test instrument developed for this study meets psychometric validity demands and is suitable to evaluate effects of sports and physical education.+repphzhbib2019

Assessment of teaching and learning quality in physical education - Validation of the QUALLIS instrument

Ein wichtiges Teilgebiet der Bildungsforschung ist die Beschreibung von Unterrichtsqualität. Dabei stellen sich Fragen zu Qualitätsmerkmalen im Fach Sport und wie die Qualität des Lehrens und Lernens im Sportunterricht (QUALLIS) systematisch evaluiert werden kann. Der Beitrag arbeitet hierzu zwölf Merkmale guten Sportunterrichts heraus und operationalisiert die Merkmale mehrperspektivisch. Eine Validierungsstudie mit 40 Klassen der Sekundarstufe (634 Schüler*innen und deren Lehrer*innen) bestätigte über konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen die erwartete zwölffaktorielle Struktur und die Zusammenhänge mit der Schüler*innenmotivation. Das QUALLIS-Instrument ermöglicht einen empirischen Zugang zur Unterrichtsqualität im Fach Sport und bietet damit einen Mehrwert für die Lehrer*innenbildung. (DIPF/Orig.)An important subfield of educational research is the description of teaching quality. This raises questions about quality characteristics in the subject of physical education and how the quality of teaching and learning in physical education (QUALLIS) can be systematically evaluated. The article elaborates twelve characteristics of good physical education and operationalizes the characteristics in a multi-perspective way. A validation study with 40 secondary school classes (634 students and their teachers) confirmed the expected twelve-factorial structure and the correlations with student motivation via confirmatory factor analyses. The QUALLIS instrument provides an empirical approach to teaching quality in physical education and thus offers added value for teacher education and training. (DIPF/Orig.

Evaluation der Qualität des Lehrens und Lernens im Fach Sport – Validierung des QUALLIS-Instruments

Ein wichtiges Teilgebiet der Bildungsforschung ist die Beschreibung von Unterrichtsqualität. Dabei stellen sich Fragen zu Qualitätsmerkmalen im Fach Sport und wie die Qualität des Lehrens und Lernens im Sportunterricht (QUALLIS) systematisch evaluiert werden kann. Der Beitrag arbeitet hierzu zwölf Merkmale guten Sportunterrichts heraus und operationalisiert die Merkmale mehrperspektivisch. Eine Validierungsstudie mit 40 Klassen der Sekundarstufe (634 Schüler*innen und deren Lehrer*innen) bestätigte über konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen die erwartete zwölf-faktorielle Struktur und die Zusammenhänge mit der Schüler*innenmotivation. Das QUALLIS-Instrument ermöglicht einen empirischen Zugang zur Unterrichtsqualität im Fach Sport und bietet damit einen Mehrwert für die Lehrer*innenbildung

MOBAK – Monitoring motorischer Basiskompetenzen von 4- bis 8-jährigen Kindern in der Schweiz: Dokumentation der Items und Skalen

In der vorliegenden Dokumentation sind die Skalen und Items zusammengestellt, welche in der von der Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz (GFCH) geförderten Studie «Monitoring motorischer Basiskompetenzen von 4- bis 8-jährigen Kindern in der Schweiz» (01.12.2019–30.11.2020) verwendet wurden. Diese Studie hat zum Ziel, den motorischen Förderbedarf von 4- bis 8-jährigen Kindern festzustellen und relevante Faktoren zu identifizieren, welche mit der psychischen und physischen Gesundheit der Kinder in Zusammenhang stehen. Kern der Studie bildet die Erfassung der Motorischen Basiskompetenzen (MOBAK; Herrmann, 2018; Herrmann, Seelig, Ferrari & Kühnis, 2019) im 1. Zyklus der Primarschule. Neben einem Monitoring der motorischen Basiskompetenzen im Kindergarten und der ersten Primarschulklasse in den Kantonen Nidwalden und Tessin wurden die Eltern und Lehrpersonen der Kinder mittels Fragebogen befragt. Die Dokumentation der Skalen und Items umfasst die Variablennamen, den zugehörigen Fragetext und die Kodierung, sowie Quellen zu den einzelnen Fragen bzw. Items. Zudem sind Skalen- bzw. Itemkennwerte der psychometrischen Daten aufgeführt.+repphzhbib2020

Disease, activity and schoolchildren's health (DASH) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa: a study protocol

BACKGROUND: An in-depth epidemiological investigation on intestinal parasite infections in an impoverished area of Port Elizabeth, South Africa provides a unique opportunity for research on its impact on children's physical fitness, cognitive performance and psychosocial health. Additionally, we will screen risk factors for the development of diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. METHODS/DESIGN: A 2-year longitudinal cohort study will be conducted, consisting of three cross-sectional surveys (baseline and two follow-ups), in eight historically black and coloured (mixed race) primary schools located in different townships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Approximately 1000 Grade 4 primary schoolchildren, aged 8 to 12 years, will be enrolled and followed. At each survey, disease status, anthropometry and levels of physical fitness, cognitive performance and psychosocial health will be assessed. After each survey, individuals diagnosed with parasitic worm infections will be treated with anthelminthic drugs, while children with other infections will be referred to local clinics. Based on baseline results, interventions will be tailored to the local settings, embedded within the study and implemented in half of the schools, while the remaining schools will serve as controls. Implementation of the interventions will take place over two 8-week periods. The effect of interventions will be determined with predefined health parameters. DISCUSSION: This study will shed new light on the health burden incurred by children in deprived urban settings of South Africa and provide guidance for specific health interventions. Challenges foreseen in the conduct of this study include: (i) difficulty in obtaining written informed consent from parents/guardians; (ii) administration of questionnaires in schools where three languages are spoken (Afrikaans, Xhosa and English); (iii) challenges in grasping concepts of psychosocial health among schoolchildren using a questionnaire; and (iv) loss to follow-up due to the study setting where illiteracy, mobility and violence are common. Finally, designing the health interventions together with local principals and teachers will allow all concerned with the research to bolster a sense of community ownership and sustained use of the interventions after the study has ceased

Changes in Self-Reported Physical Activity Predict Health-Related Quality of Life Among South African Schoolchildren: Findings From the DASH Intervention Trial

Introduction: Regular physical activity is associated with multiple health benefits for children. Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests that physical activity is positively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The promotion of physical activity, and hence HRQoL, through a school-based intervention is therefore an important endeavor, particularly in disadvantaged areas of low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Methods: We designed a multicomponent physical activity intervention that was implemented over a 20-week period in 2015 in eight disadvantaged primary schools of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Overall, 758 children aged 8-13 years participated. HRQoL was measured with the 27-item KIDSCREEN questionnaire. Self-reported physical activity was assessed with a single item of the Health-Behavior of School-Aged Children test, and cardiorespiratory fitness with the 20-m shuttle run test. Post-intervention scores were predicted with mixed linear regression models, taking into consideration the clustered nature of the data. Results: Higher baseline levels as well as increasing levels of self-reported physical activity predicted all dimensions of children's HRQoL. Baseline levels and increases in cardiorespiratory fitness predicted children's self-perceived physical well-being (one of the HRQoL subscales). Participation in the multicomponent physical activity intervention did not affect children's HRQoL. Conclusion: Higher and increasing self-reported physical activity predict all assessed HRQoL dimensions, which underlines that the promotion of regular physical activity among children living in disadvantaged settings is an important public health measure. Policy makers should encourage schools to create physical activity friendly environments, while schools should implement regular physical education as proposed by the school curriculum

Associations of growth impairment and body composition among South African school-aged children enrolled in the KaziAfya project

(1) Background: Early childhood malnutrition may result in increased fat mass (FM) among school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We explored whether South African children with shorter stature have greater overall and abdominal FM compared to normal stature children. (2) Methods: Baseline assessments of body composition and weight were determined among school-aged children enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Multiple linear regression models tested associations of children's height and degree of stunting with FM, fat free mass (FFM), truncal fat mass (TrFM), and truncal fat free mass (TrFFM) overall and by sex. (3) Results: A total of 1287 children (619 girls, 668 boys) were assessed at baseline. Reduced child height was associated with higher FM and lower FFM and TrFFM, but these associations were reversed with increases in height. Girls classified as mildly or moderately/severely stunted had higher FM and TrFM but lower FFM and TrFFM, while no association was found for boys. (4) Conclusions: Our study suggests that efforts to reduce the non-communicable disease burden in LMICs should target growth-impaired children who may have greater overall FM and greater abdominal FM

Associations between selective attention and soil-transmitted helminth infections, socioeconomic status, and physical fitness in disadvantaged children in Port Elizabeth, South Africa: an observational study

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomically deprived children are at increased risk of ill-health associated with sedentary behavior, malnutrition, and helminth infection. The resulting reduced physical fitness, growth retardation, and impaired cognitive abilities may impede children's capacity to pay attention. The present study examines how socioeconomic status (SES), parasitic worm infections, stunting, food insecurity, and physical fitness are associated with selective attention and academic achievement in school-aged children. METHODOLOGY: The study cohort included 835 children, aged 8-12 years, from eight primary schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The d2-test was utilized to assess selective attention. This is a paper and pencil letter-cancellation test consisting of randomly mixed letters d and p with one to four single and/or double quotation marks either over and/or under each letter. Children were invited to mark only the letters d that have double quotation marks. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed via the 20 m shuttle run test and muscle strength using the grip strength test. The Kato-Katz thick smear technique was employed to detect helminth eggs in stool samples. SES and food insecurity were determined with a pre-tested questionnaire, while end of year school results were used as an indicator of academic achievement. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Children infected with soil-transmitted helminths had lower selective attention, lower school grades (academic achievement scores), and lower grip strength (all p<0.05). In a multiple regression model, low selective attention was associated with soil-transmitted helminth infection (p<0.05) and low shuttle run performance (p<0.001), whereas higher academic achievement was observed in children without soil-transmitted helminth infection (p<0.001) and with higher shuttle run performance (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Soil-transmitted helminth infections and low physical fitness appear to hamper children's capacity to pay attention and thereby impede their academic performance. Poor academic achievement will make it difficult for children to realize their full potential, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poverty and poor health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ISRCTN68411960

Intestinal parasites, growth and physical fitness of schoolchildren in poor neighbourhoods of Port Elizabeth, South Africa: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: As traditional lifestyle and diets change with social and economic development, disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries increasingly face a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. We studied the relationship between physical fitness and infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), intestinal protozoa and Helicobacter pylori among schoolchildren in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 1009 children, aged 9 to 12 years, from eight primary schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Port Elizabeth. Physical fitness was determined using field-deployable tests of the Eurofit fitness test battery. Stool samples were analysed with the Kato-Katz thick smear technique to diagnose STHs and with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to detect intestinal protozoa and H. pylori infections. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were assessed and anthropometric indicators determined. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 934 children (92 %). In two schools, high STH prevalences were found (Ascaris lumbricoides 60 and 72 %; Trichuris trichiura 65 % each). For boys and girls co-infected with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura (n = 155) the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was estimated to be 50.1 and 47.2 ml kg(-1) min(-1), compared to 51.5 and 47.4 ml kg(-1) min(-1) for their non-infected peers (n = 278), respectively. On average, children without helminth infections had greater body mass (P = 0.011), height (P = 0.009) and a higher body mass index (P = 0.024) and were less often stunted (P = 0.006), but not significantly less wasted compared to their peers with a single or dual species infection. Among 9-year-old boys, a negative correlation between helminth infections and VO2 max, grip strength and standing broad jump distance was observed (P = 0.038). The overall mean Hb level was 122.2 g l(-1). In the two schools with the highest prevalence of STHs the Hb means were 119.7 and 120.5 g l(-1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal parasite infections appear to have a small but significant negative effect on the physical fitness of infected children, as expressed by their maximal oxygen uptake. We observed a clear impact on anthropometric indicators

Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren

Executive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) intervention would improve cognitive and academic performance. A cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Children from four schools located in a peri-urban area of South Africa were randomly assigned to (i) PA + MMNS, (ii) PA + placebo, (iii) MMNS or (iv) placebo. Information processing and inhibitory control were measured with a computerized Flanker task. End-of-year results provided insight into academic achievement. Anthropometric measures were used to determine nutritional status. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-models, adjusting for baseline scores, school classes and age; 932 children (458 girls (49.1 completed baseline and post-intervention assessments. Cognitive performance improved among all four groups, with no significant group x time effects. For academic achievement, there was no significant interaction effect between the combined intervention group and placebo. We encourage future studies in this neglected area in order to determine the most optimal design of school-based nutrition and PA programs to enhance overall cognitive performance