- Title
- Childhood motor skill proficiency as a predictor of adolescent physical activity
- Creator
- Barnett, Lisa M.; Beurden , Eric van; Morgan, Philip J.; Brooks, Lyndon O.; Beard, John R.
- Relation
- Journal of Adolescent Health Vol. 44, Issue 3, p. 252-259
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.07.004
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2009
- Description
- Purpose: Cross-sectional evidence has demonstrated the importance of motor skill proficiency to physical activity participation, but it is unknown whether skill proficiency predicts subsequent physical activity. Methods: In 2000, children’s proficiency in object control (kick, catch, throw) and locomotor (hop, side gallop, vertical jump) skills were assessed in a school intervention. In 2006/07, the physical activity of former participants was assessed using the Australian Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire. Linear regressions examined relationships between the reported time adolescents spent participating in moderate-to-vigorous or organized physical activity and their childhood skill proficiency, controlling for gender and school grade. A logistic regression examined the probability of participating in vigorous activity. Results: Of 481 original participants located, 297 (62%) consented and 276 (57%) were surveyed. All were in secondary school with females comprising 52% (144). Adolescent time in moderate-to-vigorous and organized activity was positively associated with childhood object control proficiency. Respective models accounted for 12.7% (p = .001), and 18.2% of the variation (p = .003). Object control proficient children became adolescents with a 10% to 20% higher chance of vigorous activity participation. Conclusions: Object control proficient children were more likely to become active adolescents. Motor skill development should be a key strategy in childhood interventions aiming to promote long-term physical activity.
- Subject
- motor skill; fundamental movement skill; physical activity; organized physical activity; adolescent; child; longitudinal
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/805236
- Identifier
- uon:6818
- Identifier
- ISSN:1054-139X
- Language
- eng
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