Physical activity types and motor skills in 3-5-year old children: National Youth Fitness Survey. Issue 4 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wood, Aaron P.; Imai, Satomi; McMillan, Amy Gross; Swift, Damon; DuBose, Katrina D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of science and medicine in sport. Volume 23:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 390
• Page End: 395
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: PA physical activity -- TGMD-2 Test of Gross Motor Development – 2nd Edition -- BMI Body mass index -- GMQ Gross Motor Quotient -- NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Child -- Preschool -- NHANES -- Physical activity -- Motor skill development; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- physiology -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Sportgeneeskunde; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.11.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-2440

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This study examined relationships between specific types of physical activity (PA) and motor skill development in preschool-aged children. Design: This study was completed using a cross-sectional study design. Methods: Data from children 3−5 years old (N = 342, 51% males) who participated in the 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey were analyzed. PA was measured using a questionnaire by parent report and motor skill development determined by Test of Gross Motor Development-2nd Edition (TGMD-2). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between PA type and overall Gross Motor Quotient (GMQ) controlling for age, sex, race, and parental socioeconomic status. Results: Commonly reported activities were running (43%), playing outdoor games (35%), and riding a bike (34%). Based on the standard scores, participants' motor skill development for Locomotor, Object Control, and overall GMQ were considered average. Participation in the following physical activities were positively associated with GMQ: riding a bike (β (SE) = 5.27 (2.02), p = 0.02), scooter riding (β (SE) = 9.83 (2.59), p = 0.002), swimming (β (SE) = 4.01 (1.17), p = 0.004), and jumping on a trampoline (β (SE) = 7.45 (3.09), p = 0.03). With the exception of riding a bike, the physical activities positively related to GMQ had a reported range of participation between 7–12%. Conclusions: Participation in specific physical activities was related to higher GMQ in preschool-aged children. Also, with the exception of riding a bike, the activities that the children participated in the most were not the same as the activities that were positively related to motor skill development.