A Fundamental Movement Skill Test for Preschool Children With and Without Overweight: The SALTO Test Battery

This study aimed to evaluate a 3-factor model of fundamental movement skills in preschool children, incorporating both process- and product-oriented assessment methods, and to test the model's invariance across subgroups of age, body weight and sex.

The SALTO test battery was administered to 736 preschool children aged 3-6 years. A single-indicator multitrait-multimethod model was specified with Locomotion, Object Manipulation, and Balance as latent factors and a latent method factor to address the multimethod design. Measurement invariance was tested across subgroups using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis.

The 3-factor model yielded good fit indices, confirming the construct validity of the SALzburg Together against Obesity test battery. Strong measurement invariance was found across body mass index groups, whereas partial invariance was observed across age and sex groups. Older children outperformed younger ones in all skill domains, children with overweight had lower skills in Balance and Locomotion, and sex differences were found in Object Manipulation and Balance.

The SALTO test battery is a structurally valid tool for evaluating and comparing fundamental movement skills in preschool children across age, weight status, and sex. The findings underscore the importance of considering these factors when designing interventions to enhance fundamental movement skills in early childhood.