Understanding Perceived and Actual Water Competence in Brazilian Children: Accuracy of Self-Evaluations and Implications for Drowning Prevention

Abstract

Children’s self-evaluations are typically overly positive until around 8 years of age. An overestimation of aquatic skills may increase behavioral risk-taking and then elevate the likelihood of drowning. However, little is known about how perceived and actual water competence are related in children, as well as whether children overestimate their ability in aquatic skills. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived and actual water competence in Brazilian children aged 4 to 10 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 162 participants (51.8% girls), categorized into three age groups: 4–6 years (≤72 months, n = 33), 6–8 years (73–96 months, n = 83), and 8–10 years (≥97 months, n = 46). Perceived and actual water competence were assessed using aligned instruments: Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) and Actual Aquatic Skill Test (AAST), respectively. Actual and perceived water competence were positively and strongly associated across age groups (r_s = .788 to .940). No significant differences by sex were found in either actual or perceived water competence. Comparisons between actual and perceived water competence revealed no significant differences in all age groups. This study showed that perceived and actual water competence are strongly and positively associated in Brazilian children aged 4 to 10 years. Moreover, children did not overestimate their aquatic skills, even in the younger age groups. Therefore, children can make accurate self-evaluations in water competence when the aquatic skills being assessed are basic and concrete. We recommend assessing perceived water competence as part of a comprehensive screening strategy integrated into broader water safety actions that may help prevent drowning in children.