Does Perception of Motor Competence Mediate Associations between Motor Competence and Physical Activity in Early Years Children?

• Main Authors: Charlotte J. S. Hall, Emma L. J. Eyre, Samuel W. Oxford, Michael J. Duncan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Sports
• Subjects: physical activity; motor competence; preschool; children; young; perceived motor competence
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/7/4/77
• ISSN: 2075-4663

Objectives: To examine if the relationship between physical activity (PA) and actual motor competence (MC) in British early years children is mediated by their perceived MC. Design: Cross-sectional convenience observational study. Methodology: MC was assessed with six locomotor skills (LC) and six object-control skills (OC) via the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. PA was measured via a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer and PA grouped as daily total PA (TPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Perceived MC was assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Acceptance for Young Children. A total of 38 children (63% male; 37% female) aged between 3 and 6 years (5.41 ± 0.69) completed all assessments. Mediating impacts of perceived MC on the relationships between PA and MC were explored via backwards mediation regressions. Results: There were no mediating impacts of perceived MC on the relationship between PA and actual MC. Conclusions: The relationship between actual MC and PA is not mediated by perceived MC in a small sample of British early years childhood.