A multivariate multilevel analysis of youth motor competence. The Peruvian Health and Optimist Growth Study

We use a multivariate multilevel model to study the links between physical fitness (PF) and gross motor coordination (GMC) and investigate the influence of predictors affecting their levels across age. We sampled 7918 Peruvians, aged 6-15 years, from sea-level, Amazon region and high-altitude. Composite markers of GMC and PF were derived (GMC_z and PF_z , respectively). BMI, biological maturation, and stunting were assessed. School characteristics were obtained via an objective audit. School contexts explained 35% of the associations between PF_z and GMC_z , whereas children's characteristics explained 65% of the total variation. On average, with increasing age, there was a greater increase in GMC_z (β = 0.79 ± 0.04, P < .001) than in PF_z (β = 0.15 ± 0.03, P < .001); boys outperformed girls (PF_z , β = 3.25 ± 0.08, P < .001; GMC_z , β = 1.58 ± 0.09, P < .001); those with lower BMI and ahead in their maturation had higher PF_z (β = -0.13 ± 0.01, P < .001; β = 1.09 ± 0.05, P < .001, respectively) and GMC_z (β = -0.18 ± 0.01, P < .001; β = 0.39 ± 0.06, P < .001, respectively) levels. Stunting was negatively related to PF_z (β = -0.30 ± 0.07; P < .001) and GMC_z (β = -0.30 ± 0.08, P < .001) and high-altitude Peruvians had significantly lower GMC_z (β = -0.93 ± 0.33, P < .001), and those living in the Amazon region had significantly higher PF_z (β = 1.21 ± 0.58, P < .001) compared to those living at sea level. A higher number of students was negatively related to PF_z (β = -0.016 ± 0.006, P < .001) and positively with GMC_z (β = 0.005 ± 0.003, P < .001); the duration of physical education classes was positively associated with PF_z (β = 0.70 ± 0.32, P < .001) and GMC_z (β = 0.46 ± 0.15, P < .001); and the existence of policies for physical activity was only negatively associated with GMC_z (β = -1.17 ± 0.34, P < .001). In conclusion, PF_z and GMC_z were positively correlated and child- and school-level traits predicted their levels.