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Is it confidence or competence that best predicts physical activity in young children?
Abstracts / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 12 (2010) e1–e232
from a randomised controlled trial in overweight children that aimed to promote motor skill proficiency, perceived competence and physical activity through a physical activity skill development program. Paper 4 presents longitudinal data examining the relationship between childhood motor skill proficiency and adolescent physical activity participation and aerobic fitness. Paper 5 will describe evidence-based strategies to promote the optimal development of fundamental motor skills. The focus in the presentations will be on motor skill proficiency; as a correlate or determinant of physical activity and on strategies to improve motor skill proficiency. Following these five presentations, a panel led by A/Prof Tony Okely will generate discussion of the implications of these findings for both researchers and practitioners. This symposium will present new and unique evidence which contributes substantially to the field with key recommendations made for the design and delivery of school and community programs to promote motor skill proficiency and physical activity. Paper 1: Is it confidence or competence that best predicts physical activity in young children? Paper 2: Does perceived competence, motor competence or fitness best predict physical activity among adolescents? Paper 3: Efficacy of a skill development program in promoting motor skill proficiency and physical activity in overweight children. Paper 4: Longitudinal evidence for the importance of motor skill proficiency to physical activity. Paper 5: Evidence-based approaches to enhance the learning of FMS. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.141 141 Is it confidence or competence that best predicts physical activity in young children? F. Mclntyre ∗ , B. Hands, H. Parker University of Notre Dame Australia Introduction: The influence of motor competence and perceived competence on physical activity in children has been conceptualised in several socio-ecological models (e.g.Stodden et al., 2008; Welk, 1999). However, these models have not been empirically tested with young children, nor considered how these might differ between boys and girls. The aim of this study was to test the contribution of actual and perceived motor competence to physical activity levels among young children, and to examine how these relationships might evolve over an 18 month time frame. Methodology: The study was a mixed-longitudinal design and the original cohort (N = 201) ages were 6, 7, and 8yr olds, who over 18 months of repeated testing became 7, 8, and 9 yr olds. Motor competence was determined by deriving a composite score from a criterion-based assessment of the run,
e69
throw, jump and line walk. Perceived motor competence was measured using the Self Description Questionnaire-I (Marsh, 1988) and physical activity was determined by deriving a mean daily step count based on a 7- day pedometer record. Results/Conclusions: Multiple regression analysis revealed that actual, but not perceived, motor competence predicted physical activity level, and this was significant at an earlier age in boys (7 years) (b = .34, p = .00, r2 = .1O) than girls (9 years) (b = .35, p = .03, r2 = .09). Actual motor competence explained 30% of the variance (b = .59, p = .00) in 9-year-old boys’ physical activity levels. Using linear mixed model analysis, actual motor competence (p = .02), gender (p = .00) and school (p = .019) were identified as the main significant contributors to physical activity level over this age range. In young children, the motivation to be active is driven by a child’s actual skill level rather than their self-perceptions. Additionally, the significance of gender means consideration must be given to boys and girls developing physical activity behaviour differently, with the impact of competencies having significant influence at different ages. Based on these results, a new conceptual model specific to young children is proposed. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.142 142 Does perceived competence, motor competence or fitness best predict physical activity among adolescents? B. Hands 1,∗ , E. Rose 1 , H. Parker 1 , D. Larkin 2 1 University 2 University
of Notre Dame Australia of Western Australia
Introduction: According to motivational theorists (Bandura, 1997; Harter, 1999) both perceived and actual competence will contribute to an individual’s motivation to engage in specific behaviours. While research with primary school children has shown strong links between motor competence, perceived competence, and physical activity levels, findings with adolescents are less conclusive. The contribution of aerobic fitness to physical activity level is often largely ignored in this age group. In this study with adolescents we proposed that perceived and actual motor competence as well as aerobic fitness will influence level of physical activity, and these influences may differ between males and females. Methodology: The sample comprised 636 participants (309 males and 327 females) with a mean age of 14.03 (0.19) years from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Physical activity was determined by deriving a mean daily step count based on minimum of 4 days pedometer records. Motor competence was based on the Neuro-Developmental Index (M = 100, SD = 15) derived from scores from the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (McCarron, 1997). The PWC170 measured aerobic fitness and the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Ado-
from a randomised controlled trial in overweight children that aimed to promote motor skill proficiency, perceived competence and physical activity through a physical activity skill development program. Paper 4 presents longitudinal data examining the relationship between childhood motor skill proficiency and adolescent physical activity participation and aerobic fitness. Paper 5 will describe evidence-based strategies to promote the optimal development of fundamental motor skills. The focus in the presentations will be on motor skill proficiency; as a correlate or determinant of physical activity and on strategies to improve motor skill proficiency. Following these five presentations, a panel led by A/Prof Tony Okely will generate discussion of the implications of these findings for both researchers and practitioners. This symposium will present new and unique evidence which contributes substantially to the field with key recommendations made for the design and delivery of school and community programs to promote motor skill proficiency and physical activity. Paper 1: Is it confidence or competence that best predicts physical activity in young children? Paper 2: Does perceived competence, motor competence or fitness best predict physical activity among adolescents? Paper 3: Efficacy of a skill development program in promoting motor skill proficiency and physical activity in overweight children. Paper 4: Longitudinal evidence for the importance of motor skill proficiency to physical activity. Paper 5: Evidence-based approaches to enhance the learning of FMS. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.141 141 Is it confidence or competence that best predicts physical activity in young children? F. Mclntyre ∗ , B. Hands, H. Parker University of Notre Dame Australia Introduction: The influence of motor competence and perceived competence on physical activity in children has been conceptualised in several socio-ecological models (e.g.Stodden et al., 2008; Welk, 1999). However, these models have not been empirically tested with young children, nor considered how these might differ between boys and girls. The aim of this study was to test the contribution of actual and perceived motor competence to physical activity levels among young children, and to examine how these relationships might evolve over an 18 month time frame. Methodology: The study was a mixed-longitudinal design and the original cohort (N = 201) ages were 6, 7, and 8yr olds, who over 18 months of repeated testing became 7, 8, and 9 yr olds. Motor competence was determined by deriving a composite score from a criterion-based assessment of the run,
e69
throw, jump and line walk. Perceived motor competence was measured using the Self Description Questionnaire-I (Marsh, 1988) and physical activity was determined by deriving a mean daily step count based on a 7- day pedometer record. Results/Conclusions: Multiple regression analysis revealed that actual, but not perceived, motor competence predicted physical activity level, and this was significant at an earlier age in boys (7 years) (b = .34, p = .00, r2 = .1O) than girls (9 years) (b = .35, p = .03, r2 = .09). Actual motor competence explained 30% of the variance (b = .59, p = .00) in 9-year-old boys’ physical activity levels. Using linear mixed model analysis, actual motor competence (p = .02), gender (p = .00) and school (p = .019) were identified as the main significant contributors to physical activity level over this age range. In young children, the motivation to be active is driven by a child’s actual skill level rather than their self-perceptions. Additionally, the significance of gender means consideration must be given to boys and girls developing physical activity behaviour differently, with the impact of competencies having significant influence at different ages. Based on these results, a new conceptual model specific to young children is proposed. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.142 142 Does perceived competence, motor competence or fitness best predict physical activity among adolescents? B. Hands 1,∗ , E. Rose 1 , H. Parker 1 , D. Larkin 2 1 University 2 University
of Notre Dame Australia of Western Australia
Introduction: According to motivational theorists (Bandura, 1997; Harter, 1999) both perceived and actual competence will contribute to an individual’s motivation to engage in specific behaviours. While research with primary school children has shown strong links between motor competence, perceived competence, and physical activity levels, findings with adolescents are less conclusive. The contribution of aerobic fitness to physical activity level is often largely ignored in this age group. In this study with adolescents we proposed that perceived and actual motor competence as well as aerobic fitness will influence level of physical activity, and these influences may differ between males and females. Methodology: The sample comprised 636 participants (309 males and 327 females) with a mean age of 14.03 (0.19) years from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Physical activity was determined by deriving a mean daily step count based on minimum of 4 days pedometer records. Motor competence was based on the Neuro-Developmental Index (M = 100, SD = 15) derived from scores from the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (McCarron, 1997). The PWC170 measured aerobic fitness and the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Ado-