Objective: Little is known to date about the relationship between poor motor abilities and overweight or obese pre-school children. Thus, this study examined the association between motor abilities and weight status in 1,228 kindergarten children (45.8% female). Method: Anthropometric data were assessed; age 4.7 ± 1.0 years; height 108.6 ± 8.0 cm; weight 19.1 ± 3.6 kg; BMI 16.1 ± 1.5 kg/m². The modified Karlsruher Motor Ability Screening Test was carried out to determine the motor abilities of speed strength, muscular endurance, coordination, flexibility, and speed. Results: Based on the German BMI reference values, 3.5% of the children were obese, 9.6% overweight, 83.4% normal weight, and 3.5% underweight. During various test tasks, below-average motor abilities were discovered in 44.0–47.3%. In all age groups, overweight and obese children did not differ from their normal and underweight counterparts; except for underweight children which fared worse in flexibility. Conclusion: In contrast to former studies with first graders, overweight or obese pre-school children did not possess worse motor abilities than normal weight children. However, the high number of overweight children and motor deficits suggests that preventive measures should start at this early age.

No abstract

Students from a lower socioeconomic background have a higher risk of dropping out of higher education. The underlying mechanisms of this association between socioeconomic background and higher education dropout are not well understood. Previous research in higher education has followed Tinto’s model of academic and social integration to explain dropout but has largely neglected social inequality therein. In contrast, social stratification research draws on rational choice theory to explain social inequality in educational attainment but has rarely been applied to explain dropout from higher education. In our paper, we combine these two strands of research. Utilizing data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), we draw on a largescale, representative sample of students in Germany to quantify the relative contribution of each theoretical approach for explaining social inequality in dropout from higher education. Binary logistic regression models reveal that both students’ integration and costs-benefit considerations are associated with their dropout risk net of each other. While academic and social integration appears to better predict dropout, rational choice theory accounts for a larger proportion of social inequality therein. We conclude that combining Tinto’s model and rational choice theory provides a more comprehensive perspective of dropouts from higher education and social inequality therein.

No abstract

Schools are an excellent setting for health promotion in children and adolescents. In particular the school subject physical education (PE) offers high potential in this regard. The following paper applies the salutogenic model of Aaron Antonovsky to PE in schools. This approach focuses on strengthening the sense of coherence with its central factors: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. A high sense of coherence mobilizes generalized resistance resources, results in positive coping strategies and contributes to well-being and health. The presented modified and adapted salutogenic model of health for PE may serve as one element of a schools' general concept for health promotion.