Through the Looking Glass: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Evidence, Providing New Insight for Motor Competence and Health

Abstract

Introduction In 2008, a conceptual model explaining the role of motor competence (MC) in children’s physical activity (PA), weight status, perceived MC and health-related fitness was published. Objective The purpose of the current review was to systematically compile mediation, longitudinal and experimental evidence in support of this conceptual model. Methods This systematic review (registered with PROSPERO on 28 April 2020) was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Separate searches were undertaken for each pathway of interest (final search 8 November 2019) using CINAHL Complete, ERIC, Medline (OVID), PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and SportDiscus. Potential articles were initially identified through abstract and title checking (N = 585) then screened further and combined into one review (n = 152), with 43 articles identified for extraction. Studies needed to be original and peer reviewed, include typically developing children and adolescents first assessed between 2 and 18 years and objective assessment of gross MC and at least one other variable (i.e., PA, weight status, perceived MC, health-related fitness). PA included sport participation, but sport-specific samples were excluded. Longitudinal or experimental designs and cross-sectional mediated models were sought. Strength of evidence was calculated for each pathway in both directions for each domain (i.e., skill composite, object control and locomotor/coordination/stability) by dividing the proportion of studies indicating a significantly positive pathway in the hypothesised direction by the total associations examined for that pathway. Classifications were no association (0–33%), indeterminate/inconsistent (34–59%), or a positive ‘+’ or negative ‘ − ’ association (≥ 60%). The latter category was classified as strong evidence (i.e., ++or −−) when four or more studies found an association. If the total number of studies in a domain of interest was three or fewer, this was considered insufficient evidence to make a determination. Results There was strong evidence in both directions for a negative association between MC and weight status. There was strong positive evidence for a pathway from MC to fitness and indeterminate evidence for the reverse. There was indeterminate evidence for a pathway from MC to PA and no evidence for the reverse pathway. There was insufficient evidence for the MC to perceived MC pathway. There was strong positive evidence for the fitness-mediated MC/PA pathway in both directions. There was indeterminate evidence for the perceived MC-mediated pathway from PA to MC and no evidence for the reverse. Conclusion Bidirectional longitudinal associations of MC with weight status are consistent with the model authored by Stodden et al. (Quest 2008;60(2):290–306, 2008). However, to test the whole model, the field needs robust longitudinal studies across childhood and adolescence that include all variables in the model, have multiple time points and account for potential confounding factors. Furthermore, experimental studies that examine change in MC relative to change in the other constructs are needed. Trial Registrations PROSPERO ID# CRD42020155799.

Is Foundational Movement Skill Competency Important for Keeping Children Physically Active and at a Healthy Weight?

“…Whilst the review found strong evidence for a negative association between FMS and weight status in both directions, there was indeterminate evidence for a pathway from FMS to PA and no evidence for the reverse pathway. Although there were findings of a bidirectional longitudinal associations between FMS competency and weight status, consistent with the Stodden, Goodway [ 2 ] model, the review authors recommended that further robust longitudinal and experimental studies examining changes in FMS relative to change in other constructs are needed [ 14 ].…”

“…As such, further longitudinal studies are needed to examine the developmental trajectory of FMS competence with PA and obesity as proposed in the Stodden, Goodway [ 2 ] model. A recent systematic review by Barnett, Webster [ 14 ] looked to compile evidence from mediation, longitudinal and experimental studies in support of the Stodden, Goodway [ 2 ] model. Whilst the review found strong evidence for a negative association between FMS and weight status in both directions, there was indeterminate evidence for a pathway from FMS to PA and no evidence for the reverse pathway.…”

What factors relate to three profiles of perception of motor competence in young children?

“…Therefore, children's tendency to overestimate their actual motor competence (AMC) is considered to be a positive motivator for increasing physical activity (PA) (Stodden et al, 2008;Robinson et al, 2015). Due to the inflated PMC of children, the relationship between PMC and AMC is not expected to correlate (Lopes et al, 2016;Hall et al, 2019;Lopes et al, 2018;True et al, 2017;Barnett et al, 2021). Yet, not all young children have inflated PMC (Robinson, 2011).…”

Fostering Holistic Development with a Designed Multisport Intervention in Physical Education: A Class-Randomized Cross-Over Trial

“…The amelioration of overall motor skill competence in the enriched PE group and its worsening in the traditional PE group over the intervention time (Figure 3) confirms that at the threshold to adolescence, designed specialist-led interventions have the potential to promote motor skill competence [7,8] and even prevent its deterioration. The relevance of interventions that aid motor competence development in preadolescence is especially evident when considering the predictive role of overall motor competence in childhood for later PA levels [4,82,83] and, conversely, the worldwide high rates of insufficient PA in adolescence [84]. Reviews of interventions targeted to motor competence [8,85] called for attention to the theoretical or pedagogical approaches to gain a better understanding of the features of efficacious interventions.…”

“…Increasing attention to PE outcomes in the motor domain has been attracted by the flourishing of research on the development of motor competence-that is the ability to perform goal-directed movements-and its predictive value for positive trajectories of physical health [3,4] and cognitive development [5]. Curriculum-based PE shows, metaanalytically, a significant beneficial effect on overall motor competence in children and adolescents regardless of age and amount of PE time [6].…”