Factors associated with young children's self-perceived physical competence and self-reported physical activity

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with self-reported physical activity (PA), self-perceived physical fitness and competence in physical education (PE) among young children. The study included physical tests, anthropometric measures and a questionnaire. The study group comprised 206 children (114 boys and 92 girls, aged 8-12 years). Positive Odds Ratio was used in the logistic regression analyses. High level of self-reported PA was associated with membership of sport clubs and high self-perceived physical fitness. Variables associated with high self-perceived competence in PE were low age, high physical performance, living with both parents, high self-perceived physical fitness, male gender and enjoying PE. Variables associated with high self-perceived physical fitness were low age, high performance in endurance running, high self-reported PA, positive self-perceived body function and high self-perceived competence in PE. Correlations between children's self-perceived competence in PE and actual measured physical performance, between the self-perceived fitness and endurance performance and between self-reported PA and physical performance could be seen as a form of concurrent validity. One implication of the study for practitioners might be that children's own perceptions of their physical competence and activity levels could be used to roughly identify groups of children who are at risk of remaining physically inactive and therefore more prone to be unhealthy.

Fitness Testing for Children: Let’s Mount the Zebra!

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Work Ability of Finnish Physical Education Teachers

“…For physical health, mental health, and work ability, we used questions from the Quality of Life (QOL; Spitzer, et al, 1981); for physical fitness, we used questions from the study by Sollerhed, Apitzsch, Råstam, and Ejlertsson (2008). The work motivation question was based on Dittrich, Büsch, and Micheel's (2011) study, the scale for salary, working conditions, and relations with PE TEACHERS' WORK ABILITY colleagues was developed by Knoop (1994), the administration of the work and professional competence scale based on Bogler's (2001) study, the work environment scale was developed by Feldt (1997), the balance between work and family was based on Valcour's (2007) study, and the stress resilience scale was developed by Delahaij, Gaillard, and Soeters (2011).…”

Estado de peso, condición física y satisfacción con la vida en escolares de educación primaria. Estudio piloto

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