Are the U.S. children motor-competent, physically active, and fit? A comprehensive analysis

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are essential for children’s health and development, but a number of critical measurement-related issues in children’s FMS, physical activity (PA), and health-related fitness (HRF) are still unknown. To address these issues, this dissertation and its three studies investigates the changes in U.S. children’s FMS between 1985 and 2019 in addition to their levels of PA and the relationship between FMS, PA, and HRF. In particular, the first chapter provides an overview of FMS, including its definition and relevance, as well as existing research on FMS, PA, and HRF and pays specific attention to studies of the proposed FMS conceptual model with descriptions of gaps and needs in research. Fortunately, four distinct data sets were useful in resolving these problems and allowed for the purpose and specific aims to be derived. Chapter 2 utilizes four unique data sets, including three Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) norm-related studies, and the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS-2012) which could be used to assess whether children’s FMS had changed. Here, results showed that children’s FMS temporality increased before 2000 but then began to drop after 2000, with the degree of decline becoming more noticeable with age. However, this drop may be associated with weight gain for FMS. Meanwhile, Chapter 3 examines the NNYFS-2012 data set, the first national objective measurement of PA which may determine how physically active U.S. preschools are. Results indicated in this study that U.S. preschoolers were too active to be realistic, as on average, they accumulated 6-hours (h) of daily moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), and 90% children met PA guidelines. The cause of this could be due to the method of data collection on the Monitor-Independent Movement Summary (MIMS) units from wearing PA monitors on the wrist with noise-blocking thresholds set too low. As a result, hand movements (e.g., playing video games) could be mistakenly classified as light PA (LPA) or MVPA. Overall, few differences were found between age and gender and interactions with race and BMI were not consistent with differences evaluated using the effect size (ES). Afterwards, Chapter 4 analyzes the NNYFS-2012 data set in order to explore the relationship between FMS, PA, and HRF in preschool children. Results suggested that age still plays a critical role in the determination of preschool children’s motor function and development. In general, as children get older, they become stronger, more motor competent, and physically active. With age and gender interaction, there are respective inconsistencies in ES in race and BMI impact with FMS and HRF. Overall, there is a medium correlation between FMS and muscular fitness (plank and modified pull-up). Despite the disappointment of the PA data in the NNYFS-2012, a nationwide sample with HRF measures provides us with a unique opportunity to examine FMS and related factors in preschool children in the U.S. Indeed, the discovery of a link between muscular fitness and FMS is particularly important for future PA promotion among preschool children. Finally, Chapter 5 summarizes the advantages and limitations of this study. This dissertation presents one of the most comprehensive analyses on the status, changing patterns, and correlates of FMS, as it combines four large data sets. However, limitations include the questionable PA data collected in NNYFS-2012 as well as absent height and weight data collected in TGMD 1-3 studies. Yet, the findings of this study should contribute to existing literature, not only through the identification of areas that need more research, but also in the descriptions of future directions and foci for the implementation of exercise and PA programs which may improve children and youth's FMS competency.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Zezhao

Contributors dc:contributor

• Zhu, Weimo
• Woods, Amelia Mays
• Mullen, Sean P
• Gao, Xiaotian

• Kinesiology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2021 Zezhao Chen

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113874

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F113874