Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis
Background: The development of motor competence (MC) during childhood is crucial for future physical activity and health outcomes, and it is affected by both biological and psychosocial factors. Most MC research has focused on children’s age, with fewer studies examining separate associations betwee...
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2024-09-01
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| author | Sedigheh Salami Paulo Felipe Ribeiro Bandeira Maryam Rahymian Mashhadi Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi Leonardo G. O. Luz Clarice Maria de Lucena Martins Louise L. Hardy Michael J. Duncan |
| author_facet | Sedigheh Salami Paulo Felipe Ribeiro Bandeira Maryam Rahymian Mashhadi Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi Leonardo G. O. Luz Clarice Maria de Lucena Martins Louise L. Hardy Michael J. Duncan |
| author_sort | Sedigheh Salami |
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| description | Background: The development of motor competence (MC) during childhood is crucial for future physical activity and health outcomes, and it is affected by both biological and psychosocial factors. Most MC research has focused on children’s age, with fewer studies examining separate associations between MC and biological maturation. Methods: This cross-sectional study used network analysis to assess the nonlinear associations between biological maturation (the child’s percentage of predicted mature stature to indicate somatic maturation), chronological age, sex, BMI, and MC (Test of Gross Motor Development, third edition) in 218 children (100 boys, 118 girls) aged 7–9 years. Results: Biological maturation was not significantly associated with MC in boys and weakly associated with MC in girls for the dribble, under-hand throw, and gallop. Age was positively associated with MC in girls and boys. Centrality measures indicated that the gallop and slide in girls and the dribble, catch, and run in boys were the most important network variables. Positive associations were observed between maturation and BMI for girls (r = 0.579) and, to a lesser degree, for boys (r = 0.267). Conclusions: The findings suggest that age, rather than biological maturation, is positively associated with MC in 7- to 9-year-olds. Centrality measures showed that some skills may influence other skills. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
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| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-e61476ee5c034c2880f489d3681a7a2e2025-08-20T01:55:28ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672024-09-01119114310.3390/children11091143Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network AnalysisSedigheh Salami0Paulo Felipe Ribeiro Bandeira1Maryam Rahymian Mashhadi2Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi3Leonardo G. O. Luz4Clarice Maria de Lucena Martins5Louise L. Hardy6Michael J. Duncan7Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran 15847-15414, IranGEAPAM—Department of Physical Education, Regional University of Cariri, Crato 63105-010, BrazilDepartment of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran 15847-15414, IranDepartment of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran 15847-15414, IranLACAPS, Campus Arapiraca, Federal University of Alagoas, Arapiraca 57309-005, BrazilDepartamento de Educação Física, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, BrazilPrevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaCentre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UKBackground: The development of motor competence (MC) during childhood is crucial for future physical activity and health outcomes, and it is affected by both biological and psychosocial factors. Most MC research has focused on children’s age, with fewer studies examining separate associations between MC and biological maturation. Methods: This cross-sectional study used network analysis to assess the nonlinear associations between biological maturation (the child’s percentage of predicted mature stature to indicate somatic maturation), chronological age, sex, BMI, and MC (Test of Gross Motor Development, third edition) in 218 children (100 boys, 118 girls) aged 7–9 years. Results: Biological maturation was not significantly associated with MC in boys and weakly associated with MC in girls for the dribble, under-hand throw, and gallop. Age was positively associated with MC in girls and boys. Centrality measures indicated that the gallop and slide in girls and the dribble, catch, and run in boys were the most important network variables. Positive associations were observed between maturation and BMI for girls (r = 0.579) and, to a lesser degree, for boys (r = 0.267). Conclusions: The findings suggest that age, rather than biological maturation, is positively associated with MC in 7- to 9-year-olds. Centrality measures showed that some skills may influence other skills.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1143complex systemschildrenTGMD-3motor competence |
| spellingShingle | Sedigheh Salami Paulo Felipe Ribeiro Bandeira Maryam Rahymian Mashhadi Parvaneh Shamsipour Dehkordi Leonardo G. O. Luz Clarice Maria de Lucena Martins Louise L. Hardy Michael J. Duncan Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis Children complex systems children TGMD-3 motor competence |
| title | Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis |
| title_full | Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis |
| title_short | Associations between Biological Maturation, Chronological Age, Body Mass Index, Sex, and Motor Competence in Prepubertal Children: A Network Analysis |
| title_sort | associations between biological maturation chronological age body mass index sex and motor competence in prepubertal children a network analysis |
| topic | complex systems children TGMD-3 motor competence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1143 |
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