Identifying childhood movement profiles and tracking physical activity and sedentary time across 1 year

Abstract

This study identified movement profiles in childhood and tracked longitudinal changes in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and sedentary time across identified profiles. A sample consisted of 491 Finnish 5th Grade children (girls 275, boys 216; Mage = 11.27 ± 0.32). A latent profile analysis strategy was used to identify homogenous movement profiles that included measures of motor competence, perceived competence, and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. To examine a 1‐year change in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and sedentary time among movement profiles, a mixed between‐within‐subjects analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc tests was conducted. Results revealed three movement profiles: “At‐Risk Movement Profile” “Intermediate Movement Profile" and “Desirable Movement Profile.” Results demonstrated that moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity among the Intermediate Movement Profile declined across 1 year (P < .01), whereas there was no change in sedentary time. To conclude, results of the study indicated remarkable differences in movement skill and physical fitness variables, and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity engagement between the At‐Risk Movement Profile and other two profiles. Special attention should be given to the lowest profile of children to promote their movement capabilities and physical activity engagement. It is noteworthy that At‐Risk Movement Profile included children more than one‐third of the sample.

Identifying childhood movement profiles and comparing differences in mathematical skills between clusters: A latent profile analysis

“…Our findings are consistent with previous studies, which revealed three or four movement profiles 19,20 and demonstrated substantial differences in the MC and HRF variables among clusters. 20 Especially, rather large (n = 129, 28% of the total sample) cluster "poor movers" received much lower results in all physical measures than any other clusters.…”

“…18 Few cluster analytic studies have demonstrated that it is possible to identify different movement profiles from samples, including children and adolescents. According to results of these studies, identified profiles differ substantially in MC and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness 19 , as well as PA engagement. 20 Children and adolescents who belong to clusters that have high MC typically demonstrate higher engagement in PA than youth who belong to clusters that demonstrate low qualities.…”

Development of accelerometer‐based light to vigorous physical activity in fitness profiles of school‐aged children

“…The distribution of children in the three fitness profiles was as expected, supporting the earlier findings with Finnish school children, 33 in which the variables included in the latent cluster analysis were exactly the same as in this study whereas the past total sample was smaller. It should be considered that the PMC scale used in the study was a holistic instrument for sports competence perceptions rather than perceived motor competence, which comprises subdomains of competence in stability, locomotion, object control, and active play skills.…”

School-Age Children’s Actual Motor Competence and Perceived Physical Competence: A 3-Yr Follow-up

“…The product-oriented locomotor skill test may require higher dynamic balance, speed, and lower limb strength than the other two MC tests used in this study, that is, the throw-catch and side-to-side jump tests, which in turn may reflect predominant contribution of five-leap test scores to PC. In conclusion, these findings support the importance of versatile MC acquisition in early childhood (44,49), starting in kindergarten and continuing across the primary school years.…”

“…The side-to-side, throw-catch, and five-leap test scores were standardized and summed to form an overall MC score. Further details on the present MC tests were recently reported (49).…”