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Mecías-Calvo M, Carregal-San Emeterio F, Navarro-Patón R. Do Gender and BMI Affect the Motor Skills of Five-Year-Old Preschoolers Differently? CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:829. [PMID: 39062278 PMCID: PMC11275128 DOI: 10.3390/children11070829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Weight gain is associated with numerous health complications and constitutes a serious public health problem. Motor competence (MC) can be a protective factor since children's participation and practice in physical activities can improve their health. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of gender and BMI on MC [i.e., manual dexterity (MD), aiming and catching (A&C), balance (Bal), and total MC percentile (TP)] depending on gender (boy/girl) and BMI (normal weight, overweight or obesity). METHODS The MABC-2 battery was applied in a sample of 368 preschool children (5.69 ± 0.28 years of age; 54.9% girls). RESULTS Boys and girls showed statistically significant differences in MC components: boys had higher scores in A&C (p = 0.002), while girls excelled in MD (p < 0.001), Bal (p = 0.035); TP (p < 0.001), and BMI [Bal (p = 0.009); TP (p = 0.050)], with a higher percentile in those children with overweight in both cases. Statistically significant differences were also found in the interactions between gender*BMI [MD (p < 0.001) and TP (p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS The findings showed that there were notable variations in total percentile, balance, and manual dexterity between boys and girls. In addition, girls outperformed boys in all categories save aiming and catching. However, males who were overweight or obese earned greater percentiles in both balance and the MABC-2 battery's total percentile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mecías-Calvo
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain;
| | | | - Rubén Navarro-Patón
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain;
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Runswick OR, Ould-Dada H, Lewis D. The developmental activities of women's professional pathway cricketers. J Sports Sci 2024; 42:547-557. [PMID: 38713541 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2351290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
The growth of investment in women's cricket has led to the development of new professional pathways. However, there is lack of specific evidence to support the development of these athletes. This study aimed to take a first step in understanding the participation histories of female cricketers selected into English women's professional academies. 84 players completed the Participation History Questionnaire (PHQ) to capture details of activities engaged in across development, including milestones, cricket activity, and engagement in other sport activities. There were relative age effects where players' birthdate distributions differed from national norms (X2 = 8.451, p = .003, V = 0.227), and more players than expected attended independent schools (X2 = 7.980, p = .005, V = 0.232). Participants engaged in cricket informally before coach led training, have siblings (particularly brothers) interested in cricket and often played boy's cricket before engaging in the girl's or women's game. Developmental activities were characterised by early engagement, high levels of diversification, and very low levels of play compared to high levels of formal practice and match play. These findings have implications for the advancement of talent identification and development policies and processes in women's cricket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver R Runswick
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hasna Ould-Dada
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Di Lewis
- England and Wales Cricket Board, London, United Kingdom
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Fasfous AF, Pérez-Marfil MN, Cruz-Quintana F, Pérez-García M, Al-Yamani HR, Fernández-Alcántara M. Differences in Neuropsychological Performance between Refugee and Non-Refugee Children in Palestine. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5750. [PMID: 34071910 PMCID: PMC8198945 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychological studies on refugee children are scarce, but there are even less in the case of Palestinian children. This work aims to study the neuropsychological performance of Palestinian refugee children in Palestine compared to other Palestinian children living outside refugee camps. A comprehensive Neuropsychological battery was administrated to 584 Palestinian school children (464 refugees and 120 non-refugees) aged 6, 7, and 8 years old. Results showed that non-refugee children outperformed refugee children in sustained attention, verbal comprehension, verbal memory, and visual memory. This study is the first to have performed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, based on a standardized and validated battery with the Palestinian refugee children. It supports professionals in their evaluation of neurodevelopment and neuropsychological alterations in refugee and non-refugee children in Palestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed F. Fasfous
- Social Sciences Department, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem 92248, Palestine;
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain; (F.C.-Q.); (M.P.-G.)
| | - María Nieves Pérez-Marfil
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain; (F.C.-Q.); (M.P.-G.)
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Cruz-Quintana
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain; (F.C.-Q.); (M.P.-G.)
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Pérez-García
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain; (F.C.-Q.); (M.P.-G.)
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
| | - Hala R. Al-Yamani
- Faculty of Education, Bethlehem University, Bethlehem 92248, Palestine;
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Is Quarter of Birth a Risk Factor for Developmental Coordinator Disorder in Preschool Children? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115514. [PMID: 34063912 PMCID: PMC8196682 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that preschool children have severe motor difficulties or are at risk of motor difficulties, according to quarter of birth and gender. Five hundred and eighty-eight preschool-age children were evaluated, of which 318 (54.08%) were boys and 270 (45.92%) were girls, with a mean age of 4.66 years (SD = 0.53). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The results obtained were the following: Regarding students with severe motor difficulties: 6.7% born in quarter 1 (Q1); 13.3% born in the second quarter (Q2); 20.0% born in the third quarter (Q3); and 60.0% born in the fourth quarter (Q4). The probabilities found (OR) were: Q1 vs. Q2 (OR = 3.15; p < 0.05); Q1 vs. Q3 (OR = 4.68; p < 0.005); Q1 vs. Q4 (OR = 12.40; p < 0.001); Q2 vs. Q4 (OR = 4.04; p < 0.001); and Q3 vs. Q4 (OR = 2.65; p < 0.005). The adjusted ORs, with respect to the probabilities of having severe motor difficulties, were the following: Being born in Q4 is 13.03 times more likely than being born in Q1 (p < 0.001); those born in Q3 are 4.85 times more likely than those born in Q1 (p < 0.05); and those born in Q2 4.14 times more than those born in Q1 (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that children born in Q4 are more likely to be classified as children with severe difficulties compared to children born in the other quarters of the same year.
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Mecías-Calvo M, Arufe-Giráldez V, Cons-Ferreiro M, Navarro-Patón R. Is It Possible to Reduce the Relative Age Effect through an Intervention on Motor Competence in Preschool Children? CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8050386. [PMID: 34068087 PMCID: PMC8152742 DOI: 10.3390/children8050386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to find out whether a short 6-week intervention on motor competence can reduce the Relative Age Effect (RAE) of preschool children born in the first quarter, compared to those born in the fourth quarter of the same year. Seventy-six preschool children (5.20 ± 0.54 years) from Lugo (Spain) participated. A quasi-experimental pre-post-test design was used with an intervention group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 44). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect data before and after the intervention. The data show that, before the intervention, there are significant differences between the control and the intervention group in favor of the former (born in the first quarter of the year) in manual dexterity (p = 0.011), balance (p = 0.002), total test score (p = 0.008), and total percentile score (p = 0.010). After the application of the specific intervention, statistically significant differences were found in aiming and catching (p < 0.001), balance (p = 0.022), total test score (p = 0.001), and total percentile score (p < 0.001) in favor of the intervention group (born in the last quarter of the year). The results obtained suggest that the application of a specific intervention on MC could positively influence the improvement of MC in preschool children (boys and girls) and reduce the differences produced by the RAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Mecías-Calvo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Industrial de Cantabria (CITICAN), 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Víctor Arufe-Giráldez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad de A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-942-244-244
| | - Miguel Cons-Ferreiro
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain; (M.C.-F.); (R.N.-P.)
| | - Rubén Navarro-Patón
- Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain; (M.C.-F.); (R.N.-P.)
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Navarro-Patón R, Brito-Ballester J, Villa SP, Anaya V, Mecías-Calvo M. Changes in Motor Competence after a Brief Physical Education Intervention Program in 4 and 5-Year-Old Preschool Children. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4988. [PMID: 34067220 PMCID: PMC8125856 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Low motor competence (MC) can cause low participation in physical activities in preschool children, and together with a high caloric intake, it can lead to obesity. Interventions on motor skills are effective in the short term to improve MC, therefore the objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of a short six-week program on levels of motor competence in preschool children, and (2) to examine the effects of gender-based intervention. A total of 156 preschool children (5.20 ± 0.54 years old) from Lugo (Spain) participated. A quasi-experimental pre-post-test design was used with a control group of 76 students. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. Significant differences between the control and experimental groups were found after the intervention program in aiming and catching (p < 0.001), balance (p < 0.001), the total score of eight tests (p < 0.001), and total percentile score (p < 0.001). The results regarding gender in the experimental group showed a reduction in differences with respect to the initial results except in aiming and catching, where scores were higher in boys. The data suggest that the application of specific intervention programs in MC could positively influence the improvement of MC in preschool children, thus reducing differences between genders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Navarro-Patón
- Departamento de Didácticas Aplicadas, Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Julien Brito-Ballester
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.B.-B.); (S.P.V.); (V.A.)
| | - Silvia Pueyo Villa
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.B.-B.); (S.P.V.); (V.A.)
| | - Vanessa Anaya
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.B.-B.); (S.P.V.); (V.A.)
| | - Marcos Mecías-Calvo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Industrial de Cantabria (CITICAN), 39011 Santander, Spain
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Gender Differences on Motor Competence in 5-Year-Old Preschool Children Regarding Relative Age. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18063143. [PMID: 33803697 PMCID: PMC8002931 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences on motor competence between 5-year-old boys and girls and to investigate the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) on their motor competence. A total of 232 preschool children were evaluated of whom 134 (57.8%) were boys and 98 (42.2%) were girls. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect data. The data show a main effect on gender factor; there was a main effect in total score of manual dexterity (MD; p = 0.010), in total score of balance (Bal; p < 0.001), in total test score (TTS; p < 0.001), and in total percentile score (TPS, p < 0.001). In the semester of birth factor, there were differences in aiming and catching (A&C, p < 0.001), in Bal (p = 0.029) and in total percentile score (TPS, p = 0.010). Girls perform better in MD, Bal, TTS, and TPS than boys. Preschool children born in the first semester obtain, in general, a higher percentage and a higher percentile than their peers born in the second one. RAE is present in A&C, Bal, and TPS, with higher scores obtained by preschool children born in the first semester compared to those born in the second one.
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Fairbairn N, Galea C, Wallen M, Walker K, Hodge A, Badawi N, Loughran-Fowlds A. Are boys and girls just different? Gender differences in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (M ABC-2) suggests that they are. Aust Occup Ther J 2020; 67:229-236. [PMID: 32030778 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The second edition of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M ABC-2) is a standardised, norm referenced assessment that is frequently used by therapists to identify children with motor difficulties. The norms for the M ABC-2 were derived from a sample of children in the United Kingdom (UK) and are combined across the age groups for boys and girls. The aims of this research were to investigate gender differences in the performance of 8- and 9-year-old Australian children and if the norms in our cohort differed from UK-based M ABC-2 norms. METHODS Children aged 8 or 9 years of age who underwent major neonatal cardiac or non-cardiac surgery and healthy controls were assessed using the M ABC-2 as part of the Development After Infant Surgery (DAISy) study. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in the scores for boys and girls aged 8- and 9-years old on the M ABC-2. Girls performed better than boys in manual dexterity and on total standard scores. Our control group compared to the assessment norms scored significantly poorer in manual dexterity, aiming and catching and total standard scores. CONCLUSION Caution should be used when interpreting the results of the M ABC-2 for Australian 8- and 9-year olds. Contemporary Australian, gender-specific M ABC-2 norms should be considered. Further research is required to investigate gender differences and differences in performance of Australian children compared to the assessment norms in other age groups on the M ABC-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Fairbairn
- Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Claire Galea
- Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Margaret Wallen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karen Walker
- Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoinette Hodge
- Child Development Unit, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nadia Badawi
- Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison Loughran-Fowlds
- Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care, The Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Valtr L, Psotta R. Validity of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children test - 2 nd edition in older adolescents. ACTA GYMNICA 2019. [DOI: 10.5507/ag.2019.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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