Are BMI, Self-Perceptions, Motor Competence, Engagement, and Fitness Related to Physical Activity in Physical Education Lessons?
BACKGROUND
Higher levels of actual and perceived motor competence are purported to lead to participation in physical activity (PA). Whereas considerable work has been published regarding motor and perceived competence and body mass index (BMI), much less is known about the association of these variables considering PA and engagement in physical education settings-the focus of the present study.


METHOD
In 600 children (aged 3-10 y), PA during physical education lessons, locomotor skills, object control skills, perceived competence, and BMI (study 1) were assessed. In a subsample of 149 children, PA, engagement, and health-related fitness were assessed (study 2).


RESULTS
Structural equation model showed that in study 1, locomotor skills were the strongest variable in the early years, and object control skills were the strongest later, in explained PA. The regression analysis, in study 2, showed that BMI, object control skills, and engagement were significantly associated with PA and that appropriate motor engagement was the best predictor of PA.


CONCLUSION
The authors extended previous research by providing evidence that motor competence varies across childhood in explaining participation in PA, and appropriate motor engagement plays a critical role in being active during lessons and was the strongest predictor of PA. BMI and self-perception were not significant in the models.
['Valentini|Nadia Cristina|NC|', 'Nobre|Glauber Carvalho|GC|', 'de Souza|Mariele Santayana|MS|', 'Duncan|Michael J|MJ|']
D015992:Body Mass Index D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009048:Motor Skills D010806:Physical Education and Training D012649:Self Concept
perceived competence exercise motor behavior motor skills nutritional status