How Childhood Skills Affect Teen Sports Participation
Author Information
Author(s): Lisa M Barnett, Philip J Morgan, Eric van Beurden, John R Beard
Primary Institution: University of Sydney
Hypothesis
Does perceived sports competence mediate the relationship between childhood motor skill proficiency and adolescent physical activity and fitness?
Conclusion
Developing a high perceived sports competence through object control skill development in childhood is important for both boys and girls in determining adolescent physical activity participation and fitness.
Supporting Evidence
- Perceived sports competence was significantly associated with childhood object control skill.
- Childhood object control proficiency explained 18% of the variance in adolescent physical activity.
- Childhood object control proficiency explained 30% of the variance in adolescent fitness.
Takeaway
If kids are good at sports when they're young, they feel better about themselves and are more likely to stay active as teenagers.
Methodology
Children's motor skills were assessed in 2000, and follow-up assessments for perceived sports competence, physical activity, and fitness were conducted in 2006/07 using structural equation modeling.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported physical activity measures.
Limitations
Only one third of the original matched sample was followed up, and self-report measures for physical activity may have moderate reliability.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 52.4% females with a mean age of 16.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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