Publication Details
Hands, B.,
Parker, H.,
Rose, E.,
&
Larkin, D.
(2015).
Gender and motor competence affects perceived likelihood and importance of physical activity outcomes among 14 year olds.
Child: Care, Health and Development, Early View (Online First).
Abstract
Little is understood about the impact of level of motor competence on self-perceptions in adolescence, in particular how this may differentially affect girls and boys. A sample of 1,568 14-year-old participants (766 girls and 802 boys) were grouped into four motor competence levels (very low to high) based on the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND). Self-perceptions were assessed using the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Boys had higher self-perceptions of global self-worth, athletic competence, and physical appearance, whereas girls had higher scores for close friendships and behavioral conduct. Main effects in the predicted direction were found for motor competence for self-perceptions of global self-worth, athletic competence, physical appearance, close friendships, social acceptance, and romantic appeal. These findings indicate that level of motor competence is important in many aspects of self-perceptions, affecting girls and boys differently. Higher motor competence has a protective effect on psychosocial health, particularly for girls.
Keywords
Raine study, gender, self-perceptions, adolescents, Harter, MAND Introduction
Link to Publisher Version (URL)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cch.12298/abstract
