The Prevalence and Association of Motor Competence with Weight Status and Bullying: A Cross-Cultural Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.19752

Keywords:

motor skills, body composition, peer relationships, school

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of motor competence among children and adolescents from two metropolitan cities, one in Portugal and one in Brazil, and analyzed the association between motor competence and weight status and bullying roles. A Cross-sectional and cross-cultural study was applied. The sample comprised 785 children and adolescents aged 7-14. Motor competence was assessed using The Körperkoordinationtest Für Kinder (KTK) test, while participation in bullying was assessed using a sociometric test and the students’ Body Mass Index (BMI), which was calculated from height and weight and reported as kg/m2. Portuguese students had a higher prevalence of impairment/disturbance in motor coordination. Also, obese students and bullying victims had higher odds of having a motor competence below normal values in both countries. These findings provide evidence of a link between motor competence and sex and weight status of schoolchildren and suggest that motor competence is associated with bullying roles. 

Keywords: motor skills; body composition; peer relationships; school

Author Biographies

Pâmella de Medeiros, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC

Doutoranda em Ciências do Movimento Humano pela Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC

Bolsista do Programa de pós-graduação UNIEDU

Professora colaborada da Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina

 

Grace Skrzypiec, Flinders University

Ph.D. lecturer in the School of Education and the Co-Director of the Student Well-being and Prevention of Violence (SWAPv) research centre at Flinders University, Australia.

Luis Lopes, Universidade do Minho

Ph. D. Member at Institute of Education at University of Minho and at Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto, Portugal.

Maria Teresa Ceron Trevisol, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina - UNOESC

Ph. D. Professor at the Postgraduate Program in Education at University of West Santa Catarina - UNOESC, Brazil.

Beatriz Pereira

Ph. D. Professor at the Graduate Program in Child Studies with Specialty in Physical Education, Leisure and Recreation at Institute of Education at University of Minho

Downloads

Published

2022-03-31

Issue

Section

Original Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)