title: Multivariate Associations Among Health-Related Fitness, Physical Activity, and TGMD-3 Test Items in Disadvantaged Children From Low-Income Families.
abstract: Motor skills are needed for physical development and may be linked to health-related fitness and physical activity levels. No studies have examined the relationships among these constructs in large samples of disadvantaged children from low-income families using the Test for Gross Motor Development-3rd Edition (TGMD-3). The purpose of this study was to examine the multivariate associations among health-related fitness, physical activity, and motor skills assessed using the TGMD-3. Participants included 1460 school-aged children (730 boys, 730 girls; M age = 8.4 years, SD = 1.8 years) recruited from the K to sixth grades from three low-income schools. Health-related fitness was assessed using the FITNESSGRAM battery, physical activity was assessed using accelerometers and pedometers, and motor skills were assessed using the TGMD-3. Canonical correlations revealed statistically significant correlations between the Ball Skills and health-related fitness variates (Rc= 0.43, Rc2= 17%, p < 0.001). Significant canonical coefficients in the Ball Skills variate included two-handed striking, dribbling, and catching, and significant canonical coefficients in the health-related fitness variate included body mass index and the progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run ( p < 0.01). Locomotor skills did not significantly correlate with health-related fitness or physical activity. Ball skills are related to health-related fitness in disadvantaged children from low-income families.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brusseau
authors.affiliation: 2 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hannon
keywords: child motor development; fitness; health behaviors; physical development; physical education effects