Construct validity of the PERF-FIT, a test of motor skill-related fitness for children in low resource areas

Smits-Engelsman, B.C.M.; Neto, José Dutra de Oliveira; Draghi, Tatiane Targino Gomes; Rohr, Liz Araújo; Jelsma, Dorothee

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103663

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…In line with the literature, BMI was related to all motor skills tested. In general, except for the 6-year-olds where the mean is below P50, the children in the current sample have a slightly higher BMI than those in the growth curves of the World Health Organization [32]. First, Ghanaian children have a lower BMI compared to the South African children, and there is a smaller portion with overweight and obesity (Ghana: 12.9%; South Africa: 22.6%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Recently, a new test for physical fitness and gross motor competence was specifically developed for use in low-resourced areas [30]. The Performance and Fitness test battery (PERF-FIT) evaluates movement skills, musculoskeletal fitness, and agility and power, and its feasibility and content validity [30], reliability [31], and construct validity [32] have been proven in school-aged children. Because SES is known to be an influencing factor for motor competence, the first aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of low motor competence in children living in low-resourced areas in Ghana and South Africa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High BMI and Low Muscular Fitness Predict Low Motor Competence in School-Aged Children Living in Low-Resourced Areas

Verbecque

Coetzee

Ferguson

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Childhood obesity is a relatively new problem for Sub-Saharan developing countries. Especially in children with a low socioeconomic background, the link between motor competence, muscular fitness, and body mass index (BMI) remains poorly investigated. Due to the interrelatedness of BMI and physical fitness, the aim of this study is to determine the predictive value of these factors in relation to low motor competence in school-aged children living in low-resourced areas. Motor competence and physical fitness were assessed in 1037 school-aged Ghanaian and South African children using the Performance and Fitness test battery (PERF-FIT). “Low motor competence” was predicted using odds ratios calculated from backward logistic regression analyses. Low motor competence was less prevalent in Ghanaian children (3.7–11.1%) compared to the South African children (21.9–24.2%). Increased BMI and decreased muscular fitness predicted low motor competence in both Ghanaian and South African children. For example, the chance for a Ghanaian child to have low static balance increased by 22.8% (OR = 1.228, p < 0.001) with a 1-point increase in BMI, whereas this decreased by 30.0% (OR = 0.970, p < 0.001) with a 10-cm increase on the standing long jump. In the case of the South African children, if their BMI increased by 1 point, the chance for those children of having low static balance increased by 7.9%, and if their SLJ performance decreased by 10 cm, their chance of low performance increased by 13%. Clearly, motor competence is associated with both BMI and muscular fitness. Policy makers can use this information to counteract the establishment of childhood obesity by promoting weight control through physical activity and stimulating motor competence at school.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High BMI and Low Muscular Fitness Predict Low Motor Competence in School-Aged Children Living in Low-Resourced Areas

Verbecque

Coetzee

Ferguson

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…It was also determined that the PERF-FIT had excellent content validity, good structural validity, excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC, 0.99) and good test-retest reliability (ICC, ! 0.80) (Smits- Engelsman et al, 2020aEngelsman et al, , 2020bEngelsman et al, , 2021. In a comparison study, all PERF-FIT balance tasks were significantly correlated with the MABC-2 balance sub score.…”

Section: Perf-fitmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…motor skills, power and muscular fitness (Smits-Engelsman et al, 2020a;Smits-Engelsman, Bonney, Neto and Jelsma, 2020b). The items of this test encompass fundamental motor skills, which gradually increase in the task demands of the tested motor skill.…”

Section: Reaction Timementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, it also diminishes children's motivation and engagement in physical activities, which may have significant health implications (Livesey et al, 2011;Stodden et al, 2008). Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), a common neurodevelopmental disorder, were consistently found to have lower levels of motor skill-related fitness compared to typically developing children (Smits-Engelsman et al, 2020a, b;Rivilis et al, 2011). Therefore, it is important for clinicians seeing children with lower levels of motor skills, to follow up on motor skill-related fitness to address potential adverse health effects in this group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecological validity of the PERF-FIT: correlates of active play, motor performance and motor skill-related physical fitness

Doe-Asinyo

Engelsman

2021

Heliyon

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Background: Active games are important health enhancing physical activities in children with and without developmental disorders and will help children to develop fundamental motor skills, while inactivity exacerbates coordination difficulties and increases the risk of obesity. Regular engagement in active play promotes physical, social and cognitive development. It is therefore important to know if children have the capabilities for healthy behavior. Motor skills and muscular fitness are both important components to participate in play, sport and leisure. The Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery integrates motor skills (running, jumping, hopping, catching, bouncing, throwing, balance) and muscular fitness (explosive power and muscular endurance) needed in many forms of active play. Aim: To test the ecological validity of the PERF-FIT test battery; a field-based test integrating motor skill proficiency and muscular fitness. Methods: Seventy-five children were assessed on the PERF-FIT, Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC)-2 and performance in 6 active games was scored. Of these children, 52 children scored in the normal range and 23 (or 30.3%) below the 16 th percentile of the MABC-2. Association between the outcomes of the two tests and the 6 games was calculated. Results: High to moderate associations were found between game scores and PERF-FIT items; moderate to low associations between game scores and MABC-2 items. Principle axes factor analysis with oblique rotation revealed communalities between the explosive power and agility items of the PERF-FIT and the running and ball catching games but not between the games and the balance items. Conclusions and implications: Scores on the PERF-FIT are significantly related to performance in active play. The tool is able to measure aspects of motor skills, muscle endurance and explosive power needed in children's active games and could be used as an additional tool to measure requirements for participation in everyday physical activity in children with and without developmental disorders.

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Pediatric care for children with developmental coordination disorder, can we do better?

Engelsman

Verbecque

2022

Biomedical Journal

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Construct validity of the PERF-FIT, a test of motor skill-related fitness for children in low resource areas

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Cited by 13 publications

References 37 publications

High BMI and Low Muscular Fitness Predict Low Motor Competence in School-Aged Children Living in Low-Resourced Areas

High BMI and Low Muscular Fitness Predict Low Motor Competence in School-Aged Children Living in Low-Resourced Areas

Ecological validity of the PERF-FIT: correlates of active play, motor performance and motor skill-related physical fitness

Pediatric care for children with developmental coordination disorder, can we do better?

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