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Background <p>Motor competence (MC) is considered fundamental for facilitating children’s management of daily tasks and engagement in physical activity (PA) and sports, as well as for their psychosocial development. Understanding the predictors of MC is critical for developing effective interventions to enhance it.</p> Aims <p>This study explored the mechanisms that foster MC, by examining the predictive roles of PA and physical fitness (PF), while accounting for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI).</p> Methods <p>A total of 551 Greek children (50.5% girls; Mage = 9.9 + 1.1&#xa0;years) participated. MC was assessed using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, PA with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children, and PF through a series of standardized tests.</p> Results <p>Multiple regression revealed that the combination of gender, age, BMI, PF, and PA explained 40% of the MC variance [F(8,453) = 39.57, p &lt; 0.001, adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = 0.40)], with age (Beta = -0.29, p &lt; .001), flexibility (Beta = 0.28, p &lt; .001), and aerobic performance (Beta = 0.26, p &lt; .001) being the most significant predictors. Logistic regression demonstrated better MC was strongly associated with higher PA (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.03–3.43) and PF levels (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.53–3.26 for aerobic performance and OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.08–1.23 for flexibility), whereas higher BMI correlated with poorer MC (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.69–0.84).</p> Conclusions <p>These findings highlight the importance of promoting PA and PF during childhood to enhance MC and support children’s well-being.</p>

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Predicting children’s motor competence: the role of physical fitness and physical activity

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月14日

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  • Martha Spanou,
  • Konstantinos Tambalis,
  • Konstantinos Soutos,
  • Sofoklis Sotiriou,
  • Antonis Kambas,
  • Fotini Venetsanou

摘要

Background

Motor competence (MC) is considered fundamental for facilitating children’s management of daily tasks and engagement in physical activity (PA) and sports, as well as for their psychosocial development. Understanding the predictors of MC is critical for developing effective interventions to enhance it.

Aims

This study explored the mechanisms that foster MC, by examining the predictive roles of PA and physical fitness (PF), while accounting for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

A total of 551 Greek children (50.5% girls; Mage = 9.9 + 1.1 years) participated. MC was assessed using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, PA with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children, and PF through a series of standardized tests.

Results

Multiple regression revealed that the combination of gender, age, BMI, PF, and PA explained 40% of the MC variance [F(8,453) = 39.57, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.40)], with age (Beta = -0.29, p < .001), flexibility (Beta = 0.28, p < .001), and aerobic performance (Beta = 0.26, p < .001) being the most significant predictors. Logistic regression demonstrated better MC was strongly associated with higher PA (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.03–3.43) and PF levels (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.53–3.26 for aerobic performance and OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.08–1.23 for flexibility), whereas higher BMI correlated with poorer MC (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.69–0.84).

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of promoting PA and PF during childhood to enhance MC and support children’s well-being.