Age, sex, and body composition as predictors of children's performance on basic motor abilities and health-related fitness items.
The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of age, sex, and body composition to children's motor performances on selected basic motor tasks, balance, speed, agility, power, coordination, and reaction time, and health-related fitness items, flexibility, muscle strength and endurance, and cardiovascular functions. 80 subjects were students in Grades 1, 2, 3. Data were submitted to a step-wise multiple linear regression for each criterion variable. Predictor variables were age, sex, and body composition. Age was a significant factor in predicting performance on all variables except muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility. Sex significantly predicted performance for only flexibility and cardiovascular function and body composition for the power and cardiovascular function variables. Beyond the biological potential of each individual are factors that influence his motor development. These factors need early identification to make possible opportunities for each person to reach the full perimeters of motor potential.
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011674:Pulse; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness