Biocultural Predictors of Motor Coordination Among Prepubertal Boys and Girls

Abstract

This study aimed to predict motor coordination from a matrix of biocultural factors for 173 children (89 boys, 84 girls) aged 7-9 years who were assessed with the Körperkoordinationtest für Kinder test battery. Socioeconomic variables included built environment, area of residence, mother's educational level, and mother's physical activity level (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [short version]). The behavioral domain was marked by participation in organized sports and habitual physical activity measured by accelerometers ( ActiGraph GT1M). Indicators of biological development included somatic maturation and body mass index. Among males, the best logistic regression model to explain motor coordination (Nagelkerke R= 50.8; χ= 41.166; p < .001) emerged from age-group (odds ratio [OR]: 0.007-0.065), late maturation (OR = 0.174), normal body weight status (OR = 0.116), mother's educational level (OR = 0.129), and urban area of residence (OR = 0.236). Among girls, the best logistic regression to explain motor coordination (Nagelkerke R= 40.8; χ= 29.933; p < .01) derived from age (OR: 0.091-0.384), normal body mass index (OR = 0.142), participation in organized sport (OR = 0.121), and mother's physical activity level (OR = 0.183). This sex-specific, ecological approach to motor coordination proficiency may help promote physical activity during prepubertal years through familiar determinants.

Is motor competence associated with the risk of central obesity in preschoolers?

“…Their results showed that in girls the % body fat and waist circumference were associated with low motor coordination, but among boys all adiposity indicators, including WHtR, were associated with low motor coordination. Other studies involving motor coordination in children between 7 and 9 years old used the WHtR within a multivariate set of indicators related to morphology (Luz, Valente‐dos‐Santos, et al, ) and biological traits (Luz, Coelho‐e‐Silva, et al, ), but without assessing WHtR's specific contribution to children's motor coordination.…”

The Relationship between Social Environmental Factors and Motor Performance in 3- to 12-Year-Old Typically Developing Children: A Systematic Review

“…The ages of the included children ranged from 3 to 12 years, but the majority of the studies were performed on 3–6-year-old children. Only five (16.1%) out of the 31 studies investigated children older than 6 years [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. The included articles measured the performances of different motor skills (see Table 1 ).…”

“…Other parental behaviors that were investigated were parental PA behaviors [ 31 , 38 , 41 , 44 ] and rearing behaviors [ 44 , 49 , 57 , 59 ]. Three studies investigated the relationship between the amount of PA performed by parents and motor performance in 3–6-year-old children.…”

The importance of body weight status on motor competence development: From preschool to middle childhood

“…[9][10][11] Because motor competence during childhood is associated with physical activity and fitness, 5,7,12,13 evaluating the impact of excessive weight on motor competence development is pivotal. So far, most cross-sectional [9][10][11][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] and longitudinal 12,13,[21][22][23] studies reported a negative relationship between weight status or adiposity and motor competence in children. Moreover, longitudinal studies indicate that motor competence and weight status or adiposity might present mutual relationship in children older than 6 years of age.…”