Individual, Family, and Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Young Children: Regression Model Analysis of Data Obtained from Two Motor Tests

Abstract

Physical activity and motor competence (MC) have been considered to be closely related and prevent childhood obesity. The aim of the study was two-fold: to examine MC measured with two different tools in relation to individual, family, and environmental correlates and to investigate gender differences in MC. The Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition (TGMD-3) was administered to three- to seven-year-old children (n = 945), while the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) was also used for five- to seven-year-old children (n = 444). The parent questionnaire (n = 936) included questions about individual (e.g., participation in organized sports), family (e.g., parents’ education level), and environmental (e.g., access to sports facilities) correlates. The children’s temperament was assessed using the Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory (CCTI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and linear mixed-effects regression models. The regression models explained 57% and 38% of the variance in TGMD-3 and KTK, respectively. Individual correlates, including older age, more frequent participation in sports, and specific temperament traits of activity and attention span-persistence, were the strongest predictors for better MC. Small gender differences were found in both assessment tools, albeit in a different manner. In conclusion, socioecological correlates of MC in young children are multidimensional, and individual correlates appear to be the most important predictors of MC. Importantly, the correlates can differ according to the MC assessment tools.

Anthropometric and Motor Competence Classifiers of Swimming Ability in Preschool Children—A Pilot Study

“…Numerous factors influence MC development besides behavioral factors (sedentary time, intensity-specific physical activity, and type of organized sports activities), and, hence, mediate MC effect on the SAG. Niemistö et al [ 54 ] found that the MC levels (model fit = 38%) assessed using the KTK in preschool children significantly depend on biological factors (biological maturation, gender, and temperament traits), participation in organized sports, as well as parents’ education level. We did not find gender as a significant predictor of the MQ variables, although their study showed a significantly higher mean MC in boys and higher mean score for balance test item in girls.…”

Mediation Effect of Perceived Fitness on the Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Sport Practice in Spanish Adolescents

“…This fact has led several authors to try to identify variables that can explain this change that is occurring in the practice of sports activity among adolescents [8][9][10]. In this respect, research has highlighted both individual and contextual factors, responsible for explaining the establishment of sport attitudes and habits [11][12][13].…”

Differences in Weight Status and Autonomous Motivation towards Sports among Children with Various Profiles of Motor Competence and Organized Sports Participation

“…This may indicate that having low levels of AMC and PMC does not necessarily prevent children from taking part in organized sports, which is in contrast with previous literature [ 5 , 10 , 33 ]. On the other hand, the expected positive effect in the other direction, with more OSP being associated with higher levels of AMC [ 57 ] and PMC [ 58 ] also seems to be absent in Profile 4. One explanation may be that children in this “low–low–high” profile are supported by their environment to participate in organized sports without necessarily having high levels of AMC or PMC.…”