The Associations of Objectively Measured Physical Activity,Fundamental Motor Skills and Time in Sedentary Behavior in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Reduced levels of children’s physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills (FMS) along with increased sedentary behaviors have been observed in recent years. Yet, associations between these variables are not yet well established. This study aimed to observe the associations between FMS, PA and sedentary time in elementary school children. We evaluated 148 children (70 boys; M_age = 8.7, SD = 1.4 years old) from a private school using the Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (TGMD-2) to measure FMS and examine locomotor, object control, and gross motor skills. We used accelerometry to measure PA performed on weekdays, weekends and total PA. We used descriptive statistics, partial correlations controlling for sex and age, and linear regression adjusted for sex and equivalent motor age to explain the relationships. Total moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (β: 0.153; p = .009) and weekend MVPA (β: 0.171; p = .003) were significantly associated with FMS, regardless of gender and equivalent motor age. Sedentary time was not significantly associated with FMS (p = .065). Girls and boys who met PA recommendations (≥60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous PA) had higher frequencies of high ratings on the TGMD-2 (p < .001 e p = .001, respectively). MVPA was associated with children’s FMS development, possibly affecting the quality of movement performed in children's daily lives.