Relationship Between Actual and Perceived Locomotor and Ball Skills Competence Among Children: A Person-Centered Approach.

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether profiles varying in actual and perceived locomotor and ball skill competencies would be identified and whether these profiles would differ in relation to children's characteristics. Participants were 127 (70 boys; 57 girls) French-speaking Canadian children (5-11 years). Actual and perceived motor competencies were, respectively, measured using the Test of Gross Motor Development - Third version and the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence. Latent profile analyses revealed four profiles (1) Non-Alignment Devaluation (children underestimated their slightly below average competencies; 17.9%); (2) Non-Alignment Overestimation (children overestimated their slightly below average competencies; 24.7%); (3) Non-Alignment Underestimation (children slightly underestimated their above average competencies; 24.9%); (4) Alignment Low Competence (children displayed accurate but slightly below average competencies; 32.5%). Girls were more likely to correspond to profiles 1 and 4, older children and children more frequently involved in physical activity/sport practice were more likely to correspond to profile 3, and younger children were more likely to correspond to profile 2. These results emphasise the importance of considering the alignment between perceived and actual motor competencies. They also indicate that age and physical activity/sport practice were associated with higher competencies, whereas girls and younger children were associated with lower competencies.