Identifying childhood movement profiles and tracking physical activity and sedentary time across 1 year

Abstract

This study identified movement profiles in childhood and tracked longitudinal changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time across identified profiles. A sample consisted of 491 Finnish 5th Grade children (girls 275, boys 216; Mage = 11.27 ± 0.32). A latent profile analysis strategy was used to identify homogenous movement profiles that included measures of motor competence, perceived competence, and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. To examine a 1-year change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time among movement profiles, a mixed between-within-subjects analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc tests was conducted. Results revealed three movement profiles: “At-Risk Movement Profile” “Intermediate Movement Profile" and “Desirable Movement Profile.” Results demonstrated that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among the Intermediate Movement Profile declined across 1 year (P