Background and aims
In the last twenty years, there has been increasing evidence that Motor Competence (MC) is vital for developing an active and healthy lifestyle. This study analyses the associations between motor competence and its components, with health-related fitness (HRF).
Methods
A random sample of 546 children (278 males, mean = 10.77 years) divided into four age groups
(7?8; 9?10; 11?12; 13?14 years old) was evaluated. A quantitative MC instrument (evaluating
stability, locomotor and manipulative skills), a maximal multistage 20-m shuttle-run test and the
handgrip test, height and BMI were used in the analyses. Pearson correlations and standard
regression modelling were performed to explore the associations between variables.
Results
Moderate to strong significant correlations (0.49 < r < 0.73) were found between MC and
HRF, for both sexes, and correlation values were stable across the age groups. The MC
model explained 74% of the HRF variance, with the locomotor component being the highest
predictor for the entire sample (? = .302; p < .001). Gender-related differences were found
when boys and girls were analysed at each age group. Locomotor MC for girls was the most
consistent significant predictor of HRF across all age groups (0.47 < ? < 0.65; all p .001).
For boys, significant predictors were locomotor and manipulative MC (0.21 < ? < 0.49; all p
< .05) in the two younger age groups (7?8 and 9?10 years) and stability (0.50 < ? < 0.54; all
p .001) for the older two age groups (11?12 and 13?14 years).
Conclusion
These results support the idea that: (1) the relationship between overall MC and HRF is strong and stable across childhood and early adolescence; (2) when accounting for the different MC components, boys and girls show different relationship patterns with HFR across age.4811-99FE-2ECD | Luis Paulo Rodriguesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio