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Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Motor Competence in Children Aged 5-10 Years-A Systematic Review
Paulino Gomes Rosa1,2,3, Guilherme Eustáquio Furtado4,5, Miguel Jacinto1,6
1ESECS, Polytechnique University of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal.
Insights
Motor competence (MC), physical fitness (PF), and physical activity (PA) are linked in children. However, inconsistent methods mean findings are provisional, requiring more standardized research.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Pediatric Health
- Movement Science
Background:
- Motor competence (MC), physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF) are crucial for child development.
- Existing evidence on the MC-PF-PA relationship in middle childhood is inconsistent due to varied research methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize associations between MC, PF, and PA in children aged 5-10 years.
- To evaluate the methodological quality and certainty of evidence for these associations.
Main Methods:
- A PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review searched six databases from January 2020 to November 2025.
- Included observational studies used validated instruments and were assessed for risk of bias using JBI checklists.
- Narrative synthesis and GRADE-style certainty rating were employed due to unfeasible quantitative pooling.
Main Results:
- Thirteen studies (11 cross-sectional, 2 longitudinal) were included, with most having moderate-to-high risk of bias.
- Positive associations were found between MC-PA (especially with objective measures), MC-PF, and longitudinally for PF-PA.
- Mediation analyses suggested roles for perceived competence and self-efficacy, with null findings linked to subjective PA measures.
Conclusions:
- Motor competence, physical fitness, and physical activity are interconnected in middle childhood.
- The predominance of cross-sectional designs and methodological heterogeneity limit causal inference.
- Findings are provisional, highlighting the need for standardized, longitudinal research.
Background:
Motor competence (MC), physical activity (PA), and physical fitness (PF) are interrelated components of child development, yet evidence on the MC-PF-PA triad in middle childhood remains inconsistent due to methodological heterogeneity.
Objective:
To synthesise associations between MC, PF, and PA in children aged 5-10 years (2020-2025) and to appraise methodological quality and certainty.
Methods:
A PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42024617560) searched six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SportDiscus, SciELO, PsycINFO) from January 2020 to April 2025, updated November 2025. Eligible observational studies in English reported quantitative associations between ≥2 constructs in 5-10-year-olds using validated instruments. Risk of bias was appraised in duplicate with JBI checklists. Quantitative pooling was unfeasible under a pre-specified pooling matrix; associations were synthesised narratively and certainty rated using a GRADE-style framework.
Results:
Thirteen studies (n = 43-1064; 11 cross-sectional, 2 longitudinal) were included; six were low, five moderate, and two high risk of bias. MC-PA was predominantly positive, especially with objective instruments; MC-PF was consistently positive; PF-PA was less consistent but trended positive longitudinally. Mediation/moderation analyses (k = 3) supported roles for perceived competence, self-efficacy, and PF. Null/negative findings clustered among subjective PA measures and higher risk of bias. GRADE certainty was low-to-moderate.
Conclusions:
MC, PF, and PA are interconnected in middle childhood, but cross-sectional predominance and instrument heterogeneity preclude causal inference; findings are provisional and should drive longitudinal, methodologically standardised research.
