Objective: To examine the effect of age, sex and obesity on Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) in 4 to 6 years-old children. Methodology: A total of 400 preschool children (200 boys and 200 girls) between the ages of 4 to 6 years old participated in this research. Subjects were selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling. Fundamental motor skills (FMS) were assessed with using the OSU-SIGMA scale. Body mass index (BMI) was directly measured from height(m)2/weight(kg) for each child and based on CDC growth charts, normal weight, overweight and obesity were defined. Results: The results showed that age and sex variables were a significant effect on walking and running skills, but BMI was not significant (P>0.05). Also, these variables had a significant effect on jumping, skipping, hopping and ladder climbing. In both ages, boys in jumping and ladder climbing skills were better than girls, but the girls were better in skipping and hopping skills (P<0.05). Moreover, the results showed that age and BMI variables have a significant effect on stair climbing skill, but sex was not significant (P>0.05). For object control skills, the results showed that age and sex variables were a significant effect on catching and throwing skills, but BMI was not significant (P>0.05). Finally, the age, sex and BMI variables were a significant effect on kicking and sticking skills. Conclusion: This research demonstrated that boys performed better than girls, and both overweight and obese children have lower performance than normal children.

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Aim: To examine the latent structure of the Test of Gross Motor Development—Third Edition (TGMD-3) with a bifactor modeling approach. In addition, the study examines the dimensionality and model-based reliability of general and specific contributions of the test’s subscales and measurement invariance of the TGMD-3. Methods: A convenience sample of (N = 496; Mage = 7.23 ± 2.03 years; 53.8% female) typically developed children participated in this study. Three alternative measurement models were tested: (a) a unidimensional model, (b) a correlated two-factor model, and (c) a bifactor model. Results: The totality of results, including item loadings, goodness-of-fit indexes, and reliability estimates, all supported the bifactor model and strong evidence of a general factor, namely gross motor competence. Additionally, the reliability of subscale scores was poor, and it is thus contended that scoring, reporting, and interpreting of the subscales scores are probably not justifiable. Conclusions: This study shows the advantages of using bifactor approach to examine the TGMD-3 factor structure and suggests that the two traditionally hypothesized factors are better understood as “grouping” factors rather than as representative of latent constructs. In addition, our findings demonstrate that the bifactor model appears invariant for sex.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency among a sample of Iranian children. Design: Cross sectional, representative sample of 2200 children aged 2.5-14 years (50% girls), living in Tehran in 2018. Methods: Trained field staff assessed 7 locomotor and 4 object control skills in educational settings using the Ohio State University Scale of Intra-Gross Motor Assessment (OSU-SIGMA). Scores for levels 1-3 represent immature performance and level 4 represents proficiency. Data were analyzed by age and sex. Results: Overall, proficiency prevalences were higher in boys than girls. Proficiency in walking and running emerged in children from age 2.5 years, and proficiency in more complex locomotor skills (i.e., jumping, skipping, hopping, ladder-climbing) and object control skills emerged at age 6 years. The prevalence of proficiency in hopping, jumping, skipping and all object control skills were low in children aged <9 years. All children aged ≥9 years were proficient in all locomotor skills. At age 9 years, the prevalence of object control proficiency were high for throwing (boys 100%, girls 89%), catching (boys 89%, girls 65%), striking (boys 69%, girls 53%) and low for kicking (boys 45%, girls 41%). All children ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS except kicking (boys 61%, girls 55%). Conclusions: FMS proficiency were age and sex related with proficiency in most skills emerging around age 6 years. All children aged ≥11 years were proficient in all FMS, except kicking. The findings may be useful to guide the development of intervention programs in Iranian children aged 2.5-10 years.

Objectives: This research aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) among older Iranian people. Methods & Materials: The research method was non-experimental research that its necessary information was collected with the cross-sectional method. The statistical population comprised all older people over 60 years of age in Tehran City, Iran. The statistical sample included 1035 people who have completed the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). This questionnaire consists of 69 questions and 9 components. The obtained data were analyzed with confirmatory factorial analysis based on structural equations, Cronbach alpha coefficient, and intra-class correlation coefficient tests. Results: The content, face, and concurrent validity were acceptable (P<0.05). Also, result showed that the MBSRQ has acceptable fit indexes (such as RMSEA=0.042, CFI=0.903, TLI=0.978, PNFI=0.075, and PGFI=0.886). Further, the internal consistency and temporal reliability were acceptable (P<0.05). Conclusion: The Persian version of MBSRQ has acceptable reliability and validity in the Iranian elderly, and researchers, older adults, and elderly specialists can use this questionnaire for its evaluations and research.

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Background and Aims One of the critical variables affecting sports success is mental toughness, which is the ability to return from failure and imposed pressure. It seems that it is necessary to conduct interventional research on different sports communities and observe the effect of this intervention on different personality dimensions of athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a mindfulness-based yoga intervention on mental toughness in athletes with varying skill levels. Methods In the present study, 72 student-athletes who were members of sports teams (Mean±SD age: 20.67±1.44 years, Mean±SD sports: history 5.88±3.26 years) were selected based on inclusion criteria, and They were divided into three intervention groups (skilled, semi-skilled and less experienced) and three control groups (skilled, semi-skilled and less experienced). Also, the Persian version of the sports mental toughness questionnaire (SMTQ), Golby and Shird), and the demographic questionnaire was used. First, all pretest participants completed a sports mental toughness questionnaire; then, the intervention group participated in 12 90-minute mindfulness-based yoga training sessions. At the end of the course, all subjects were retested. Athletes’ participation was voluntary, and all subjects signed a consent form to participate in the study. Results The two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) (skill level×intervention) showed that the main effect of the intervention in the post-test was significant for the stubbornness variable and subscales of stability and control, but the effect of skill level and their interactive effect was not significant. Also, comparing the pretest and post-test pairs for each group, it was observed that the mental toughness of the inexperienced and semi-skilled in the post-test groups significantly improved over the pretest. Conclusion The effect of a mindfulness-based yoga intervention on athletes’ mental toughness and subscales of stability and control was positive. Considering the importance of the athlete’s mental toughness in achieving high levels of competition, it is suggested that coaches use mindfulness-based yoga intervention in athletes with different skill levels to promote this psychological factor.