Abstract
Research indicates that children and adolescents gradually participate less in physical activity with age. Several factors are associated with children’s physical activity levels, such as motor performance, self-perception of athletic competence and motivation to physical activity. To gain a better understanding of the factors of importance for behavior related to an active lifestyle, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between motor competence, physical self-perception and autonomous motivation and to examine to what extent this association may vary by sex. The sample consisted of 101 children, whose average age was 11.7 years (SD = 0.57), 53 boys and 48 girls. All subjects were measured on motor competence, physical self-perception and autonomous motivation for physical activity. The results indicate a low positive relationship between motor competence and physical self-perception for the entire sample and among girls. There is also a significant correlation between autonomous motivation and physical self-perception. No significant correlations were found between autonomous motivation and motor competence. The association between physical self-perception and autonomous motivation suggests that psychological factors play an important role in children’s participation in physical activity.
Highlights
IntroductionDespite increased knowledge about the positive health effects of physical activity, sedentary activities and low physical activity levels are an increasing challenge throughout the life span [1].Most evidence suggests that there is a clear decline in activity levels with age throughout adolescence [2,3].An important focus of research on health and quality of life among children and adolescents has been to identify the physical, psychological and social factors related to participation in physical activity in this age group.There is evidence for a reciprocal association between motor competence and physical activity [4,5,6,7].Motor competence can be understood as a person’s ability to perform various motor actions, including the coordination of fine and gross motor skills, and these are necessary to master activities in everyday life, including play and physical activity [8,9]
The results show no differences between sex in motor competence, motivation and physical self-perception
Assessment of motor competence may have led to a bias in the sample, as students who feel competent and confident in such a test situation wanted to participate, while those who may have felt little mastery in such a test situation refused to participate. In this sample of 11–12-year-old children, no sex differences were found in motor competence measures, motivational regulations and physical self-perception
Summary
Despite increased knowledge about the positive health effects of physical activity, sedentary activities and low physical activity levels are an increasing challenge throughout the life span [1].Most evidence suggests that there is a clear decline in activity levels with age throughout adolescence [2,3].An important focus of research on health and quality of life among children and adolescents has been to identify the physical, psychological and social factors related to participation in physical activity in this age group.There is evidence for a reciprocal association between motor competence and physical activity [4,5,6,7].Motor competence can be understood as a person’s ability to perform various motor actions, including the coordination of fine and gross motor skills, and these are necessary to master activities in everyday life, including play and physical activity [8,9]. Despite increased knowledge about the positive health effects of physical activity, sedentary activities and low physical activity levels are an increasing challenge throughout the life span [1]. Most evidence suggests that there is a clear decline in activity levels with age throughout adolescence [2,3]. An important focus of research on health and quality of life among children and adolescents has been to identify the physical, psychological and social factors related to participation in physical activity in this age group. There is evidence for a reciprocal association between motor competence and physical activity [4,5,6,7]. Possessing certain motor skills allows the child to participate in varied physical activities, which in turn facilitates versatile movement experiences [10]
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