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Associations between sedentary behavior and motor coordination in children.
Luís Lopes1, Rute Santos, Beatriz Pereira
1Department of Theoretical Education and Artistic and Physical Education, Research Centre on Child Studies (CIEC), Institute of Education, Minho University, Braga, Portugal. luis.iec.um@hotmail.com
Summary
High sedentary behavior (SB) negatively impacts motor coordination (MC) in children, even with adequate physical activity (PA). Reducing sedentary time is crucial for improving children's motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Sedentary behavior (SB) is increasingly prevalent in children.
- The impact of SB on motor coordination (MC) requires further objective investigation.
- Understanding factors influencing MC is vital for child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between objectively measured SB and MC in Portuguese children.
- To assess the influence of physical activity (PA), accelerometer wear time, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and maternal education on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional school-based study of 213 children (9-10 years old).
- Objective measurement of PA and SB using accelerometers over five days.
- Motor coordination assessed via the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder.
- WHtR calculated from measured height and waist; maternal education assessed via questionnaire.
- Statistical analyses included Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) and logistic regressions.
Main Results:
- Sedentary time significantly discriminated between children with low and high MC (P < 0.05).
- Lower sedentary groups demonstrated significantly higher odds of good MC compared to higher sedentary groups.
- These findings remained independent of PA, accelerometer wear time, WHtR, and maternal education level.
Conclusions:
- Objectively measured sedentary behavior, not just physical activity, significantly influences children's motor coordination.
- High levels of sedentary behavior may have deleterious effects on motor coordination that physical activity cannot fully mitigate.
- Discouraging sedentary behavior in children is essential for enhancing motor coordination.
