Childhood movement skills: predictors of physical activity in Anglo American and Mexican American adolescents?

Full Abstract

We assessed the relationship between young children's movement skills and their physical activity in early adolescence. Balance, agility, eye-hand coordination, and skinfold thicknesses in 207 Mexican American and Anglo American children (104 boys, 103 girls) were measured at ages 4, 5, and 6 years. Habitual physical activity was assessed at the age of 12 years by two interviewer-administered 7-day recalls. Ethnic differences in movement skills were not found. Young girls were better at jumping and balancing, and young boys were better at catching. Tracking of skills was low, and children's early childhood skills were not related to their physical activity 6 years later. Further studies involving additional movement skills and other populations are recommended to determine if enhanced movement skills in children promote subsequent physical activity.

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Author information

Author/s: McKenzie, Thomas L (TL); Sallis, James F (JF); Broyles, Shelia L (SL); Zive, Michelle M (MM); Nader, Philip R (PR); Berry, Charles C (CC); Brennan, Jesse J (JJ);

Affiliation: Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University, CA 92182, USA. tmckenzie(-atsign-)sdsu.edu

Grants: HL35109 (Agency:United States NHLBI)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Research quarterly for exercise and sport (Res Q Exerc Sport), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Sep; vol 73 (issue 3) : pp 238-44

Dates: Created 2002/09/16; Completed 2003/01/24; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12230330, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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