Fine and Gross Motor Skill Proficiency Differences of Children Aged 8-9 Years based on Gender

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out the proficiency differences in fine motor skills and gross motor skills based on gender. 147 children at the elementary school level were divided into two groups according to their gender. Male children were 78 children (aged 8.5±0.4) and female children were 69 children (aged 8.3±0.3). The instrument used in this research was the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–second edition (MABC-2). The statistical test used a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test, while r coefficient was used to interpret the effect size. The result of the study showed that the manual agility of male children was better than female children. However, the difference was not significant and the effect size was small (p .05, r = .004). The result also showed that the catching and throwing skills of male children were better. The difference was not significant and the effect size was small (p .05, r = .023). Meanwhile, the balance of the male children was better than the female children with a significant difference and medium effect size (p .05, r = .055). In general, the result of the study shows that male children are better than female children in fine and gross motor skill mastery.