Identifying profiles of actual and perceived motor competence measured with aligned instruments: Differences in (enjoyment of) physical fitness

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 42; no. 11; pp. 1041 - 1049
• Main Authors: Lefever, Elisa, Coppens, Eline, Laureys, Felien, Lenoir, Matthieu, Haerens, Leen, De Meester, An
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 02-06-2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Child; Children; Exercise Test - methods; Female; fun; health-related fitness; Humans; Male; Motor development; Motor Skills - physiology; Perception - physiology; perceptions; person-centred approach; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Pleasure; perceptions; Motor development; health-related fitness; fun; person-centred approach
• ISSN: 0264-0414; 1466-447X; 1466-447X
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2382555

A person-centred approach was used to examine whether children with various actual and perceived motor competence (AMC and PMC) profiles differ in (enjoyment of) physical fitness (PF). The strength of the relationship between AMC and PMC was also assessed through aligned assessment tools. A sample of 287 7-11-year-old children (47.40% boys, Mage = 8.92 ± .78 years) was assessed on AMC with the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder (KTK3), and on PF with six validated fitness tests. Animated videos fully aligned with the AMC- and PF-tests were used to assess children's PMC and enjoyment of PF, respectively. Cluster analyses identified one convergent (i.e. high AMC-high PMC) and three partially convergent AMC-PMC profiles (i.e. low AMC-high PMC). Furthermore, children with relatively high AMC (i.e. high-average profile) reported higher PF (F = 30.99, p < .001), while children with relatively high PMC (i.e. average-high profile) reported higher enjoyment of PF (F = 9.02, p < .001). The correlation between AMC and PMC was significant but weak (r = .16). Overall, it seems important to invest in both children's AMC and PMC as they may support a higher (enjoyment of) PF, potentially leading to higher PA-levels.
When it comes to physical fitness, actual motor competence rather than perceived motor competence seemed to play the biggest role. As extra high perceived motor competence did not add additional benefits in terms of physical fitness, there might have been a ceiling effect of perceived motor competence.
When looking at enjoyment of physical fitness, perceived motor competence seemed to be a more important factor than actual motor competence. However, profile analyses revealed that a relatively high perceived motor competence score may not fully compensate the loss of enjoyment in physical fitness when children's actual motor competence is relatively low.