(Re)defining Motor Competence: Empirical Exploration Based on a Moderated Mediation Approach

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Motor Learning
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Motor competence is crucial for children's development.
• Self-perception, self-esteem, and anxiety are influenced by motor skills.
• Gender may play a moderating role in the relationship between motor coordination and self-perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a moderated mediation model of motor competence.
• To examine motor coordination as a predictor of motor competence self-perception.
• To assess the mediating roles of anxiety and self-esteem, and the moderating role of gender.

Main Methods:

• 327 primary school pupils participated.
• Conditional process analysis using macro PROCESS v.3.4 was employed.
• Moderation and mediation effects were statistically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Gender moderated the effects of motor coordination on self-esteem, anxiety, and motor competence self-perception.
• Self-esteem and anxiety also showed gender-moderated effects on motor competence self-perception.
• Direct effects between motor coordination and self-perception were significant for both genders.
• Moderated mediation analyses supported indirect effects of motor coordination via self-esteem and anxiety, considering gender.

Conclusions:

• Motor competence is influenced by a complex interplay of factors.
• Cognitive and psycho-emotional aspects are integral to understanding motor competence.
• Interventions should consider gender-specific psycho-emotional and cognitive factors for holistic motor development.