The development of the physical fitness construct across childhood

Till Utesch · Dennis Dreiskämper · Bernd Strauß · Roland Naul

75 citations0/0 files storedScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

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Children's Physical and Motor Development Physical Activity and Health Physical Education and Training Studies

Abstract

The measurement of physical fitness (PF) is an important factor from many different perspectives. PF is a determinant of healthy child development as it is related to several health outcomes. However, existing taxonomies of the construct and frequently used fitness assessments vary concerning their theoretical assumptions and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, the construct of physical fitness covers a variety of motor domains, such as cardiovascular endurance, strength, coordination, or flexibility (eg, Caspersen et al., 1985). However, most fitness assessments provide a single (composite) score including all items as test outcome. This implicitly relates to a one-dimensional structure of physical fitness, which has been shown for other motor performance assessments in early childhood (eg, Utesch et al., 2016). This study investigated this one-dimensional structure for 6- to 9-year-old children within the item response theory framework (Partial Credit Model). Seven fitness subtests covering a variety of motor dimensions (6-minute run, pushups, sit-ups, standing broad jump, 20 m sprint, jumping sideways, and balancing backwards) were conducted to a total of 790 six-year-olds, 1371 seven-year-olds, 1331 eight-year-olds, and 925 nine-year-olds (48.2% females). Each item was transformed into five performance categories controlling for sex and age. This study indicates that a one-dimensional testing of PF is feasible across middle childhood. Furthermore, for 6- and 7-year-olds, all seven items including balancing backwards can be accumulated to one factor. From the age of about 8 and 9 years balancing backwards seems to become too easy. Altogether, analyses show no diversification of PF across childhood.

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References

1982A Rasch Model for Partial Credit Scoring 2013Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling 2008A Developmental Perspective on the Role of Motor Skill Competence in Physical Activity: An Emergent Relationship 2007Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 2015Motor Competence and its Effect on Positive Developmental Trajectories of Health 1988Rasch Models for Measurement 1986Test of Gross Motor Development 2002Life span motor development

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