A1 Journal article (refereed)
Developmental associations of actual motor competence and perceived physical competence with health-related fitness in schoolchildren over a four-year follow-up (2022)

Gråstén, A., Kolunsarka, I., Huhtiniemi, M., & Jaakkola, T. (2022). Developmental associations of actual motor competence and perceived physical competence with health-related fitness in schoolchildren over a four-year follow-up. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 63, Article 102279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102279

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Gråstén, Arto; Kolunsarka, Iiris; Huhtiniemi, Mikko; Jaakkola, Timo

Journal or series: Psychology of Sport and Exercise

ISSN: 1469-0292

eISSN: 1878-5476

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 63

Article number: 102279

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102279

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83868

Abstract

The developmental associations between actual motor competence (MC), perceived physical competence (PC), and health-related fitness (HRF) in schoolchildren were investigated over a four-year period. Participants were 1147 (girls 582, boys 565) schoolchildren aged between 11 to 13 years (M = 11.27 ± 0.33 years) in the beginning of the study. Data were collected at five time points in 2017–2021. MC was measured with three product-oriented (i.e., outcome of the movement) motor competence skill tests: side-to-side jump, five-leaps, and throw-catch. PC was assessed with the Physical Self-Perception Profile. HRF was assessed with the 20m shuttle run, curl-up, and push-up tests. The random intercept cross-lagged panel model with birth month and sex as covariates, was tested using repeated measures (within level) and PC, MC, and HRF levels (between level). The key findings were: 1) PC, MC, and HRF levels were reciprocally associated over time; 2) repeated measures of HRF at each time point were positively associated with PC and MC one year later; 3) PC decreased, MC increased, and HRF remained stable over time; and 4) MC was more important than PC in explaining the variability in HRF levels and repeated measures. The positive reciprocal associations of MC, PC, and HRF from late childhood to early adolescence found in this study are important as they indicate that to support HRF in schoolchildren, both MC and PC can be promoted through investment in MC exercises.

Keywords: health; physical fitness; exercises; physical training; heart; respiratory organs; muscles

Free keywords: health; exercise; cardiorespiratory fitness; muscular fitness; random intercept cross-lagged panel model

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1