Motor Competence in Adolescents: Exploring Association with Physical Fitness.

Thórdís Gísladóttir,Hermundur Sigmundsson,Monika Haga

doi:10.3390/sports7070176

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold: First, to examine the correlation between adolescents’ performance on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children -2 (MABC-2) and the Test of Motor Competence (TMC), and second, to interpret the correlation between performance on physical fitness measures and motor competence. This study had a cross-sectional design, in which 101 adolescents age 15–16 years were recruited. The participants were assessed with the MABC-2 (eight tasks), the TMC (four tasks) and physical fitness measures (four tasks). Ninety-four participants completed all the test items (51% male). The correlation between the standard score of the MABC-2 and TMC total score was found to be moderate (r = −0.418). A weak correlation was found between MABC-2 and total score of physical fitness (r = 0.278), while the correlation between TMC and physical fitness was a little stronger (r = 0.361). However, when removing one measure from the TMC (the walking/running in slopes), the correlation was weak and not significant (r = 0.109). The results suggest that different test batteries can cause discrepancy in the results regarding correlation between motor competence and physical fitness in adolescents.

Highlights

An improved understanding of the relationship between factors that affect physical fitness (PF) in childhood and adolescence is valuable, as PF is a protective factor against health issues later in life [1,2,3].Despite the lack of consensus on criterion measures of PF, it is accepted that health-related fitness measures must include muscular strength, flexibility, speed and endurance [4,5,6]
Earlier studies have revealed that children and adolescents with low Motor competence (MC) tend to be less physically active, less likely to participate in sports and hold lower PF level related to their peers with high MC [11,12,13,14,15]
The findings reveal that the correlations among total score of PF and placing bricks, building bricks and heel-to toe walking in the Test of Motor Competence (TMC) varied from r = 0.019 to r = −0.133, while the correlation to walking/running on slopes was r = −0.664

Summary

Introduction

An improved understanding of the relationship between factors that affect physical fitness (PF) in childhood and adolescence is valuable, as PF is a protective factor against health issues later in life [1,2,3].Despite the lack of consensus on criterion measures of PF, it is accepted that health-related fitness measures must include muscular strength, flexibility, speed and endurance [4,5,6]. Stodden et al [16] suggest that there is a reciprocal and developmentally dynamic relationship between MC and PA engagement in children and adolescents. Over time, this relationship is predicted to improve, that is, higher levels of MC will offer a better motor repertoire for participating in various physical activities. This relationship is predicted to improve, that is, higher levels of MC will offer a better motor repertoire for participating in various physical activities This makes the foundation for a positive spiral of engagement and thereby higher PF [16]. High MC in Sports 2019, 7, 176; doi:10.3390/sports7070176 www.mdpi.com/journal/sports

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