Children's Motor Skill, Physical Activity, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness: A Development Perspective

• In Event: Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: Investigating Students' Psychomotor Outcomes, Energy Balance, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Abstract

Guided by Stodden et al’s conceptual model, the major purpose of this project was to test whether perceived competence mediates the relation between fundamental motor skill (FMS) and physical activity, and the relation with cardiorespiratory fitness in children. The group differences were also investigated as a function of FMS levels. Participants were 262 (133 boys, 129 girls) elementary school students recruited from three public schools. The MANOVA yielded a significant main effect for FMS groups [F = 19.01 (4, 257), p < .001]. The SEM analyses produced sound goodness-of-fit indices: χ²/df = 34.99/24 = 1.46, P > .05; RMSEA = .042. It is important to understand the behavioral mechanism of children’s physiological and psychological development according to a FMS perspective.

Authors

• Xiangli Gu, Univeristy of North Texas

• Katherine Thomas Thomas, The University of North Texas

• Yulin Chen, University of North Texas