@article{SallenAndraeLudygaetal.2020, author = {Sallen, Jeffrey and Andr{\"a}, Christian and Ludyga, Sebastian and M{\"u}cke, Manuel and Herrmann, Christian}, title = {School children's physical activity, motor competence, and corresponding self-perception}, series = {Journal of physical activity and health}, volume = {17}, journal = {Journal of physical activity and health}, number = {11}, publisher = {Human Kinetics Publ.}, address = {Champaign}, issn = {1543-3080}, doi = {10.1123/jpah.2019-0507}, pages = {1083 -- 1090}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background: The relationship between engagement in physical activity and the development of motor competence (MC) is considered to be reciprocal and dynamic throughout childhood and adolescence. The 10-month follow-up study aimed to explore this reciprocal relationship and investigated whether the relationship is mediated by the corresponding self-perception of MC (PMC). Methods: A total of 51 children aged between 10 and 11 years (M = 10.27 [0.45]) participated in the study (52.9\% boys, 47.1\% girls). As an indicator for physical activity, the average vigorous physical activity (VPA) per day was measured by ActiGraph accelerometers. Two aspects of MC and PMC were recorded: self-movement and object movement. Saturated pathway models in a cross-lagged panel design with 2 measurement points were analyzed. Results: Reciprocal and direct relationships between VPA and MC object movement respectively MC self-movement were not found in longitudinal analyses with PMC as a mediator. Indirect effects of MC at t1 on VPA at t2 via PMC were identified (self-movement: beta = 0.13, 95\% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.26; object movement: beta = 0.14, 95\% confidence interval, 0.01 to 0.49). Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of MC and PMC in promoting children's VPA. However, VPA does not drive the development of MC.}, language = {en} }