Does biological maturity actually confound gender‐related differences in physical activity in preadolescence?. Issue 6 (19th June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guinhouya, B. C.; Fairclough, S. J.; Zitouni, D.; Samouda, H.; Vilhelm, C.; Zgaya, H.; de, C.; Lemdani, M.; Hubert, H.
• Is Part Of: Child care health and development. Volume 39:Issue 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 835
• Page End: 844
• Publication Date: 2012-06-19
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child care -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Children with disabilities -- Periodicals; 155.405
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01407.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-1862

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="cch1407-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To examine: (i) if maturity‐related gender differences in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) depend on how maturity status is defined and measured; and (ii) the influence of maturity level on compliance with PA recommendations.</p> </sec> <sec id="cch1407-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The study involved 253 children (139 boys) aged 9.9 ± 0.9 years, with mean stature and weight of 1.39 ± 0.08 m and 35.8 ± 8.8 kg respectively. Their PA was evaluated using an Actigraph accelerometer (Model 7164). Maturity was assessed using the estimated age at peak height velocity (APHV) and a standardized APHV by gender (i.e. centred APHV).</p> </sec> <sec id="cch1407-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Boys engaged in significantly more MVPA than girls (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between the centred APHV and MVPA in boys (<italic>r</italic> = 0.20; <italic>P</italic> = 0.016), but not in girls (<italic>r</italic> = 0.13; <italic>P</italic> = 0.155). An <sc>ancova</sc> controlling for the estimated APHV showed no significant interactions between gender and APHV, and the main effect of gender on MVPA was negated. Conversely, there was a significant main effect of APHV on MVPA (<italic>F</italic><sub>1, 249</sub> = 6.12; <italic>P</italic> = 0.014; <italic>η</italic><sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.024). Only 9.1% of children met the PA recommendations, including 14.4% of boys and 2.6% of girls (<italic>P</italic> < 0.01). This observation also applies in both pre‐APHV (12.7% of boys vs. 2.4% of girls, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and post‐APHV children (23.8% of boys vs. 3.4% of girls, <italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). No differences in PA guidelines were observed between pre‐APHV and post‐APHV children.</p> </sec> <sec id="cch1407-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Among prepubescent children, the influence of biological maturity on gender differences in PA may be a function of how maturity status is determined. The most physically active prepubescent children were those who were on time according to APHV.</p> </sec> </abstract>