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A multivariate multilevel approach to unravel the associations between individual and school factors on children's motor performance in the REACT project.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
      Authors
    • Maia J 1
    • Santos C 1
    • Pereira S 1
    • Garganta R 1
    • Farias C 1
    • Garbeloto F 1, 4
    (6 authors)
  • 2. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
      Authors
    • Hedeker D 2
    (1 author)
  • 3. Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
      Authors
    • Barreira TV 3
    (1 author)
  • 4. Motor Behavior Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
      Authors
    • Garbeloto F 1, 4
    • Tani G 4
    (2 authors)
  • 5. Matosinhos City-Hall, Division of Innovation, Education and Pedagogy, Matosinhos, Portugal.
      Authors
    • Cruz H 5
    (1 author)
    • Show all (8)

ORCIDs linked to this article

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council, 02 Apr 2024, 36(7):e24080
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24080 PMID: 38562064 

Abstract 

Objective

The aim was to (1) estimate the relationship between physical fitness (PF) and object control fundamental movement skills (FMS), (2) identify child characteristics that relate with PF and FMS, and (3) examine associations between the school environment, PF, and FMS.

Methods

The sample included 1014 Portuguese children aged 6-10 years from the REACT project. PF was assessed via running speed, shuttle run, standing long jump, handgrip, and the PACER test. Object control FMS were assessed with stationary dribble, kick, catch, overhand throw, and underhand roll. Test performances were transformed into z-scores, and their sum was expressed as overall PF and FMS. Child-level variables included body mass index (BMI) z-scores, accelerometer-measured sedentary time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and socioeconomic status (SES). School size, physical education classes, practice areas, and equipment were also assessed.

Results

Approximately, 90% of the variance in object control PF and FMS was at the child level, and 10% at the school level. The correlation between PF and object control FMS was .62, which declined to .43 with the inclusion of covariates. Older, more active, and higher SES children had higher object control PF and FMS, and boys outperformed girls. BMI was negatively associated with PF but not with object control FMS. Sedentary time and number of physical education classes were not significant predictors. Most school predictors did not jointly associate with PF and object control FMS.

Conclusion

PF and object control FMS z-scores were moderately related. Not all child characteristics were associated with both PF and object control FMS, and their effect sizes were different. School characteristics only explained 10% of the total variation in PF and object control FMS.

Full text links 

Read article at publisher's site: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.24080

Read article for free, from open access legal sources, via Unpaywall: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/ajhb.24080Unpaywall

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Funding 

Funders who supported this work.

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (2)