Is There an Association Among Actual Motor Competence, Perceived Motor Competence, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Preschool Children?

Vitor Lopes,Lisa Barnett,Luís Rodrigues

doi:10.1123/jmld.2015-0012

Abstract

The purpose is to explore relationships among moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and actual gross motor competence (MC) and perceived motor competence (PMC) in young children. Data were collected in 101 children (M age = 4.9 ± 0.93 years). MVPA was measured with accelerometry. Gross MC was assessed with the Portuguese version of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. PMC was evaluated with the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children. Regressions were used to determine predictive relationships related to the following research questions: (a) Can gross MC predict perceived motor competence, (b) can actual and perceived gross MC predict MVPA, and (c) can actual and perceived gross MC predict SB? Results showed no association between gross MC and PMC and between these constructs and MVPA and SB. This lack of association in the early ages is probably due to the young children’s cognitive inability to make accurate self-judgments and evaluations. A child might have low levels of actual gross MC but perceive her- or himself as skillful.

Highlights

Motor competence can be conceptualized as a person’s ability to execute different motor acts, including coordination of both fine and gross motor skills (Henderson, Sugden, & Barnett, 2007). Stodden et al (2008) have conceptualized a model in which gross
A recent systematic review found perceived motor competence had the strongest relationship to physical activity (PA) compared with other aspects of self-concept and that age positively moderated the relationship (Babic et al, 2014)
Positive cross-sectional associations between perceived motor competence and actual gross motor competence have been demonstrated in adolescence (Barnett, Morgan, van Beurden, Ball, & Lubans, 2011) and late childhood (Vedul-Kjelsås, Sigmundsson, Stensdotter, & Haga, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Motor competence can be conceptualized as a person’s ability to execute different motor acts, including coordination of both fine (e.g., manual dexterity) and gross (e.g., static and dynamic balance) motor skills (Henderson, Sugden, & Barnett, 2007). Stodden et al (2008) have conceptualized a model in which gross. A systematic review of 21 articles showed evidence that supports the model assumption that children of all ages with less gross motor competence are less active (Lubans, Morgan, Cliff, Barnett, & Okely, 2010). Higher skilled children are hypothesized to develop more accurate self-perception, and this enables more PA engagement, leading to greater gross motor competence (Stodden et al, 2008). These relationships are seen to increase in strength as children age (Stodden et al, 2008), and this is evident in the literature. One study in young children found no association (Cliff, Okely, Smith, & McKeen, 2009), whereas in older children, one study found significant negative associations between sedentary behavior and gross motor competence (Wrotniak, Epstein, Dorn, Jones, & Kondilis, 2006)

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