Social Competence as a Role-Player in the Game between Motor Performance and Organized Sports Participation among School-Age Children

Abstract

Lifestyle choices from childhood, such as being physically active, track into adult- hood. A key factor that influences a child’s likelihood of being healthy is their level of social competence. Social Competence (SC) is the interaction between the environment and biologi- cally determined abilities and is shaped by social support systems. An underdeveloped SC in- creases a child’s risk of unhealthy lifestyles as an adult as they believe themselves incapable of adjusting their habits. Children with biologically determined inabilities, such as motor impair- ments, have been demonstrated to have an activity deficit, particularly in sport participation. The relationships between social competence, motor performance, and physical activity are largely unexplored. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that SC plays as a mediator between Motor Performance (MP) and organized sports participation in preadolescent chil- dren. This sample is 1958 sixth grade children (50.2% males) taken from the Physical Health Activity Study Team (PHAST) study in Ontario, Canada. Organized sport participation was determined using the Participation Questionnaire, MP was established using the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and SC was determined through Harter’s Self-Perception Scale. The results indicated that MP and SC are independent predic- tors of sport participation. Children with low MP and low SC were at significantly greater risk of low sport participation (ORmales =2.82; ORfemales =2.41). Children with low MP and high SC (ORmales =1.04; ORfemales =1.41) or high MP and low SC (ORmales =1.12; ORfemales =0.98) revealed no increased risk of low sport participation. SC plays an important role in organized sport participation during childhood and ameliorates the risk of inactivity associated with lower MP. With high SC diminishing the risk of low sport participation from low MP, a child’s risk of low physical fitness may be subsequently reduced and therefore may be an important consideration for activity promotions.