Differences in Motor Competence of Chilean Schoolchildren According to Biological and Sociocultural Correlates

Abstract

(1) Background: In this study, we aimed to determine differences in the levels of motor competence according to biological factors (sex, age and weight status) and sociocultural factors (socioeconomic level and belonging to an indigenous people or not) in students of the La Araucanía Region, Chile. (2) Methods: A total of 552 students in 5th and 6th grade were evaluated (49.6% girls; age M = 11.3; SD = 0.8). To assess motor competence (domains of object control and self-movement), the MOBAK 5-6 test was applied. (3) Results: In the object control dimension, significant differences were found according to sex, with the boys performing higher than the girls. According to age, schoolchildren aged 11.0 to 11.9 performed higher than those aged 10.0 to 10.9, and according to socioeconomic status, schoolchildren from schools with a higher socioeconomic status showed a higher motor performance. No significant interaction effects were found between groups. With regard to the self-movement domain, statistically significant differences were only found according to weight status, where students of normal weight presented the highest performance. No significant effects were found between any of the groups. (4) Conclusions: This study shows the importance of considering the biological and sociocultural characteristics in the development of motor competence when interpreting data or planning interventions in different settings.

Motor competence and compliance with physical activity recommendations in Chilean schoolchildren

“…In reference to the tasks associated with Self-Movement, girls obtained similar values than boys which is consistent with the findings of the systematic review by Barnett et al (2016) , where no differences or associations were determined according to sex in locomotor or stability tasks. Studies with a Chilean school population also agree with this tendency ( Rodríguez-Briceño et al, 2021 ; Quintriqueo-Torres et al, 2022 ; Gonzalez-Huenulef et al, 2023 ). These differences could be explained by the existing stereotyping of physical activities, where the boys tend to participate in ball sports, whereas the girls participate in activities associated with body control ( Crane et al, 2015 ; Temple et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Studies with a Chilean school population also agree with this tendency (Rodríguez-Briceño et al, 2021;Quintriqueo-Torres et al, 2022;Gonzalez-Huenulef et al, 2023). These differences could be explained by the existing stereotyping of physical activities, where the boys tend to participate in ball sports, whereas the girls participate in activities associated with body control (Crane et al, 2015;Temple et al, 2016).…”

“…In Europe, various studies have demonstrated that students have low MC, with a high proportion of students who require motor reinforcement ( Herrmann et al, 2016 ; Quitério et al, 2017 ; Scheuer et al, 2019 ; Duncan et al, 2020 ; Wälti et al, 2022 ). In Latin America, particularly in Chile, the panorama is no different, and studies show low levels of MC ( Martinez-Lopez et al, 2021 ; Rodríguez-Briceño et al, 2021 ; Müller et al, 2022 ; Quintriqueo-Torres et al, 2022 ; Carcamo-Oyarzun et al, 2023 ). Previous studies have already identified that most schoolchildren have gross motor development levels categorized as poor and very poor ( Luarte et al, 2014 ; Bermúdez-Ferrales et al, 2015 ), which is why this situation has not changed in recent years.…”

“…However, in tasks related to self-movement, there is no certain consensus, as in some studies the results indicate that girls perform better than boys ( Iivonen and Sääkslahti, 2014 ), while in others no differences have been found between both sexes ( Barnett et al, 2016 ). In studies within the Chilean context, the trend indicates that in the performance of boys and girls in self-movement skills there are no significant differences ( Rodríguez-Briceño et al, 2021 ; Quintriqueo-Torres et al, 2022 ; Gonzalez-Huenulef et al, 2023 ).…”

Competencia motriz real y percibida en niños y niñas de la Patagonia Chilena: La percepción del estudian-tado y del profesorado de Educación Física (Actual and perceived motor competence in children from Chilean Patagonia: perception of the students and their physical education teachers)

“…Solo los niños, en la dimensión de Control de Objetos, presentan valores que superan levemente dicho límite. Estos resultados coinciden con estudios similares realizados en el estudiantado de 5° y 6° año de primaria de la Región de La Araucanía de Chile Quintriqueo-Torres et al, 2022), estableciéndose un preocupante precedente del desarrollo de la CMR en el estudiantado chileno.…”