Self-concept Or Motor Skills

Abstract

Children with poor motor abilities tend to be less physically active than typically developing children. Previous findings have shown that fundamental movement skills (FMS) and self-concept of physical competence are potential factors that facilitate subsequent PA participatiosn in children. However, little is known about the association of PA with FMS and self-concept towards PA (SCPA) in children with motor difficulties (MD). PURPOSE: 1) to examine the differences in PA participation and FMS proficiency between children with MD and an age-matched group of children with typical development (TD); and 2) to determine the association of PA with FMS proficiency and SCPA. METHODS: Participants included 43 children with MD (8.9±0.8 years) and 41 children with TD (8.4±0.9 years). Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 was used to detect MD (≤5th percentile in any of the three components). PA was monitored using accelerometers over 7 consecutive days and total volume (counts/min, cpm) was analyzed. FMS (i.e., locomotor skills and object control skills) was assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. SCPA was measured using a subscale of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire. Higher scores represented higher levels of PA, FMS proficiency, and SCPA. Two-way (MD vs. TD and boys vs. girls) ANCOVAs were used to compare group difference after controlling for age and body mass index (BMI). Partial correlations were used to determine the association of PA with FMS proficiency and SCPA after controlling for age, BMI, and sex. RESULTS: The MD group scored significantly lower in object control skills (13.6±3.4 vs. 16.1±3.5) and SCPA (3.3±1.1 vs. 4.1±1.0) than the TD group (both p<.01). Girls had lower scores in object control skills (14.3±3.1 vs. 15.2±4.0, p<.05) and PA volume (406.4±89.1 cpm vs. 488.2±101.8 cpm, p<.01) than boys. PA volume was positively related to SCPA (r=0.34, p<.01) in the MD group and to object control skills (r=0.37, p<.01) in the TD group. In the MD group, SCPA was positively associated with locomotor skills (r=0.35, p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children with MD have poorer object control skills proficiency and SCPA than children with TD. Compared to motor skills, self-concept on PA is a more important correlate that warrants particular attention when promoting PA in children with MD.