A within-subject examination of grandparents' physical activity and sedentary behavior levels in the presence or absence of grandchild care provision.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine within-subject differences in levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among Flemish grandparents aged 50 years and older during a day of providing versus not providing grandchild care. Additionally, grandparents' PA and SB levels of the specific caregiving moment within the included care day were also compared with those of the corresponding specific time frame on the matching non-care day. METHODS: Data were obtained and pooled from three assessment time points of the Healthy Grandparenting Project. Objectively measured PA and SB levels were assessed through ActiGraphs wGT3x(+) worn during waking hours for seven consecutive days and expressed relative to the total wear time of the selected days or moments (i.e., percentage of time per day or per moment). Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the within-subject differences in grandparents' light intensity PA (LIPA), moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) and SB levels between a care and non-care day as well as between the care and non-care moment of those respective days. RESULTS: A total of 92 grandparents (64.6 ± 4.8 years, 67.4% women) were included in the analyses. During the care day and care moment, grandparents showed higher relative levels of LIPA (∆=4.0% and ∆=7.9%, respectively) and lower relative levels of SB (∆=3.7% and ∆=6.7%, respectively) as compared to their respective non-care day and non-care moment (all p < 0.001). While there was no significant difference in relative MVPA levels between a day of providing versus not providing grandchild care (∆=0.3%, p = 0.500), the grandparents showed significantly lower relative levels of MVPA during the specific care moment against the non-care moment (∆=1.3%, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The higher percentage of time of LIPA and lower percentage of time spent on SB during a care day and care moment compared to a non-care day and non-care moment, highlight the positive impact of grandchild care provision on grandparents' activity levels, potentially improving other health-related outcomes. Furthermore, grandparents seem to compensate for their lower MVPA levels during the actual care moment since no differences in MVPA levels were found at day level when compared to a day without grandchild care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NTC04307589. Registered March 2020.

An Evaluation of the Reliability of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence and Its Relationship With Actual Water Competence.

In its recent development, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) showed good face and construct validity. However, additional reliability and validity research is needed, including test-retest reliability and a demonstration of the relationship between PSPWEC test scores and actual water competence. Toward that aim, we administered the PSPWC to 124 children, aged 5-8 years. We repeated this test administration after one week for a subset of 55 children to determine its test-retest reliability, and the remaining 69 children also performed the fully aligned Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST) in an indoor swimming pool to provide data for our investigation of the relationship between PSPWC scores and actual water competence. We found good test-retest reliability, both at the global level (ICC = 0.81, n = 55) and at the level of individual skills (Weighted kappa coefficients from 0.58 to 0.90), with no significant differences between these two test scores. We also found a moderate positive relationship between PSPWC and AAST total scores (r = .64, n = 69), with no significant difference between total scores of actual and perceived water competencies. Children overestimated their competence in three specific skills: the back star, swimming on the front, and diving in deep water. While these results underline specific situations in which children's higher self-perceptions of their water competence are a risk factor for their water safety, these data confirm that the PSPWC is reliable for measuring children's perceived competencies in aquatic education and drowning prevention, and there is further support for its validity through a moderate correlation with actual water competencies.

Development of Upper-Extremity Morphological Asymmetries in Male and Female Elite Youth Tennis Players: A Longitudinal Study.

PURPOSE: This 2-year longitudinal study examined the development of upper-extremity bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and lean mass (LM) asymmetry magnitudes in male and female youth tennis players. METHODS: Dominant and nondominant upper-extremity BMD, BMC, and LM values of 49 male and 31 female players were measured yearly using dual X-ray absorptiometry. From these values, asymmetry magnitudes were calculated and expressed as a percentage. Maturity offset was estimated using anthropometric measurements. Linear mixed effect models examined the development of BMD, BMC, and LM asymmetry magnitudes according to players' maturity offset, sex, and training volume. RESULTS: Adjusted for sex and training volume, a 1-year increment in maturity offset was associated with a significant increase in BMD (1.3% [2.2%]; P < .001) and BMC (0.6% [2.4%]; P = .011) asymmetry magnitudes. Male players displayed significantly higher LM asymmetry magnitudes (Δ3.2% [8.4%]; P = .002) compared with their female counterparts. Training volume was not significantly associated with asymmetry magnitude development. CONCLUSION: In contrast to LM, male and female youth tennis players' upper-extremity bones are still responsive to mechanical loading with a significant increase in BMD and BMC asymmetry magnitudes according to maturity offset.

Determinants of caregiving grandparents' physical activity and sedentary behavior: a qualitative study using focus group discussions.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the factors influencing physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in middle-aged and older adults taking care of their grandchild(ren) is limited, even though this knowledge seems imperative when considering the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchild(ren) as well as the rising popularity of intergenerational interventions targeting these energy-expenditure related behaviors. Therefore, this explorative qualitative study aimed to identify the determinants of PA and SB levels among Flemish caregiving grandparents in the presence of their grandchild(ren) aged between 0-5 years. METHODS: Six online focus group discussions were conducted via Microsoft Teams, all of which were audio- and videotaped with permission granted by the participating grandparents. In total, nine caregiving grandfathers and 28 caregiving grandmothers (overall mean age = 60.9 ± 4.1y) participated in this study. An inductive content analysis approach was used to derive subcategories, categories and themes from the verbatim transcribed data using NVivo R1. RESULTS: Caregiving grandparents' levels of PA and SB were both influenced by personal determinants (e.g., physical health, grandparental perceptions and responsibilities), interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as age-related physical/motor development and family interaction), and environmental determinants (e.g., weather and seasonal circumstances). PA levels of caregiving grandparents were further affected by additional personal determinants (e.g., age of the grandparent, planning and location) and interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as new experiences of the grandchild(ren)). Additionally, some personal determinants (e.g., perception of educational value) and interpersonal determinants (e.g., characteristics of the grandchild(ren), such as age-related cognitive development and health of the grandchild(ren)) were strictly mentioned to influence caregiving grandparents' SB. CONCLUSIONS: Acknowledging the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchild(ren), the current study identified specific factors determining grandparents' PA and SB levels during the provision of grandchild care. Besides, it turned out of importance to take the interplay between the different determinants into account. Especially, for those grandparents with older grandchild(ren), within the studied 0-5 years age range, more attention should be paid to grandchild characteristics as part of the interpersonal determinants when setting up interventions to improve levels of PA and SB in caregiving grandparents.

Development of upper and lower extremity functional asymmetries in male and female elite youth tennis players: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the development of both upper and lower extremity functional performances, together with asymmetry magnitudes and directionality in youth tennis players. METHODS: Dominant and non-dominant physical performance values of 90 players (53 males, 37 females) were determined yearly (with monitoring up to 3 years) using unilateral strength, power, speed and agility tests from which asymmetry magnitude percentages were calculated. Linear mixed effect models examined the development of performance values according to youth players' maturity offset, performance dominance, sex and training volume. Similarly, the development of functional asymmetry magnitudes was examined according to players' maturity offset, sex and training volume. Kappa coefficients (k) examined the consistency in directionality across test occasions. RESULTS: Regardless of sex, the dominant and non-dominant physical performance values of every test significantly (P<0.05) improved with increasing maturity offset. No sex differences were apparent except for strength and power related tests where male players performed significantly better. Functional asymmetry magnitudes (ranging from 2.0 to 15.9%) did not significantly change with increasing maturity offset (range=-0.3-0.4% per year). Training volume was not significantly associated with the performance values and asymmetry magnitudes. The dominant upper extremity (which holds the tennis racket) consistently displayed the dominant performance value (k value: 1.00) across test occasions, which was not the case at lower extremity level (k value range: -0.28-0.31). CONCLUSIONS: The functional asymmetry magnitudes did not change significantly with youth tennis players' maturity offset over a 3-year period.

Morphological and functional asymmetry in elite youth tennis players compared to sex- and age-matched controls.

Besides examining upper and lower limb morphological and functional asymmetry magnitudes, this study examined the relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry in terms of magnitude and direction in 41 youth tennis players versus 41 controls. Asymmetry magnitude was determined using anthropometric measurements (circumferences, widths), bioelectrical impedance analysis (lean mass) and a test battery (handgrip strength, seated medicine ball throw, plate tapping, single leg countermovement jump, single leg forward hop test, 6 m single leg hop test, 505 change of direction). ANOVAs compared the dominant (overall highest/best value) against the non-dominant (highest/best value of opposing limb) result. Linear regressions explored the relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitudes. Kappa coefficients examined asymmetry direction consistency between the limb displaying the highest lean mass value and the limb performing dominantly across tests. Significant asymmetry magnitudes (p < 0.05) were found for all upper and lower limb outcome measures. No significant relationship was apparent between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitude (r-value = -0.283-0.262). Despite finding (almost) perfect consistency in asymmetry direction (k-value = 0.84-1.00) for the upper limb, poor to slight consistency (k-value = -0.03-0.15) was found for the lower limb. Therefore, lean mass and functional asymmetry should be examined independently.

International vs. national female tennis players: a comparison of upper and lower extremity functional asymmetries.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetries have been reported to negatively impact sport performance. This study examined the magnitude and direction of whole-body functional asymmetry in international versus national female tennis players. METHODS: Ten internationally and twelve nationally ranked tennis players participated. Upper extremity functional asymmetries (or side-to-side performance differences) were evaluated using handgrip strength, seated shot-put throw and plate tapping. Lower extremity functional asymmetries were determined using the single leg countermovement jump, single leg forward hop test, 6 m single leg hop test, 505 changes of direction (time and deficit), and Y-balance test (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral). ANOVAs were used to compare the dominant (overall best or fastest result of a specific test) versus non-dominant performance values (best or fastest result of the corresponding extremity) within the internationally versus nationally ranked players. Functional asymmetry magnitudes differences (expressed as a precentage) were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Kappa coefficients examined the consistency as to which extremity performed dominantly across tests. RESULTS: Significant asymmetries for every upper and lower extremity test were found. The functional asymmetry magnitude was significantly (P=0.020) higher on the single leg forward hop test for the nationally (6.3%) versus internationally ranked players (2.9%). Kappa coefficients showed perfect levels of consistency regarding all upper extremity tests (k=1.00), indicating true limb dominance whereas more variance was found as to which lower extremity performed dominantly across tests (k range=-0.067-0.174). CONCLUSIONS: The included female tennis players displayed significant whole-body functional asymmetries. Poor consistency as to which lower extremity performed dominantly across tests warrants individual asymmetry monitoring.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis as a means of quantifying upper and lower limb asymmetry in youth elite tennis players: An explorative study.

This study aimed to examine side-to-side differences in phase angle (PhA) in both upper and lower limbs of youth elite tennis players. Among other outcomes, PhA was directly determined using segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in 26 tennis players (11.6 ± 1.1 years, 54% boys) and compared against a sex- and age-matched reference population. Significant upper limb asymmetry in PhA (p < 0.001), with a higher value on the dominant side of the body, was observed in the tennis players. At lower limb level, the tennis players showed a tendency towards a significantly higher PhA in the contralateral compared to the ipsilateral limb (p = 0.089). Using vector analysis (BIVA), a significant degree of PhA asymmetry (p = 0.002) was only reflected in the tennis players' upper limb. Additional segmental outcomes also demonstrated a significant degree of upper limb asymmetry in terms of tennis players' lean mass (p < 0.001), total segmental water (p < 0.001), fat mass (p < 0.001), extracellular water (p < 0.001) and extracellular water ratio (p < 0.001), whereas lower limb asymmetry was only observed in tennis players' fat mass (p = 0.037) and extracellular water (p = 0.001). This is the first study to report significantly more pronounced BIA-based side-to-side differences in youth elite tennis players compared to a non-athletic reference population at the upper limb level, whereas no significant between-group differences in the lower limbs were found. This explorative study should trigger future research to further scrutinize the role of BI(V)A as a promising field-method in monitoring bodily asymmetries in youth elite tennis players in view of sport performance and athletic health.HighlightsBioelectrical Impedance Analysis is a promising field-method to monitor side-to-side asymmetry in youth elite tennis players.Youth elite tennis players displayed a more pronounced degree of BIA-based side-to-side differences compared to a non-athletic reference population at the upper limb level, whereas whilst between-group differences appeared to be less evident in the lower limbs.Future research is warranted to scrutinize whether and to what extent these degrees of segmental bodily asymmetry may be related to injury risk (prevention) and athletic development of (pre)adolescent tennis players.

Face and Content Validity of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence in Young Children.

An international group of experts have developed a pictorial tool to measure perceived water competence for children aged from 5 to 8 years old: the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC). The aim of the present study was to verify the validity of this tool. In the first part of the study, 120 children were interviewed to investigate face validity of the PSPWC to ensure that all pictorial items were understandable. In the second part of the study, 13 scientific and/or pedagogical international experts were invited to assess the tool's content validity via an online survey. Face validity results revealed that children were able to understand and sequence correctly the aquatic situations in 92% of the cases. The average Content Validity Index (CVI) of the PSPWC ranged from 0.88 to 0.95, showing acceptable content validity. Feedback from experts and children resulted in a major improvement of the "exit water" situation and minor improvements concerning some other items. Experts confirmed that the PSPWC was globally appropriate for different countries and cultures, except for the situation "water entry by slide" which was not considered usual practice in some countries. The PSPWC opens up to new fields of research; useful both for the prevention of drowning and for the support of children's aquatic education.

No Relationship between Lean Mass and Functional Asymmetry in High-Level Female Tennis Players.

The relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry in terms of their magnitude and direction was examined in 22 high-level female tennis players (20.9 ± 3.6 years). Lean mass of both upper and lower extremities was examined using Dual X-ray Absorptiometry. Functional asymmetry was assessed using a battery of field tests (handgrip strength, seated shot-put throw, plate tapping, single leg countermovement jump, single leg forward hop test, 6 m single leg hop test, and 505 change of direction (time and deficit)). Paired sample t-tests compared the dominant (overall highest/best (performance) value) against the non-dominant value (highest/best (performance) value of the opposing extremity). Linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitudes. Kappa coefficients were used to examine the consistency in direction between the extremity displaying the highest lean mass value and the extremity performing dominantly across tests. Significant asymmetry magnitudes (p < 0.05) were found for all upper and lower extremity lean mass and functional values. No relationship was apparent between lean mass and functional asymmetry magnitudes (p-value range = 0.131-0.889). Despite finding perfect consistency in asymmetry direction (k-value = 1.00) for the upper extremity, poor to fair consistency (k-value range = -0.00-0.21) was found for the lower extremity. In conclusion, lean mass and functional asymmetries should be examined independently.

Relative Importance of Determinants of Changes in Eating Behavior during the Transition to Parenthood: Priorities for Future Research and Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Healthy eating behavior throughout pregnancy and postpartum is important. This study aimed to investigate the perceived sex-specific importance of determinants of changes in eating behavior during pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS: Fifty-four determinants were rated by first-time parents (n = 179) on their impact. Experts (n = 31) rated the determinants in terms of their modifiability, relationship strength, and population-level effect from which a "priority for research"-score was calculated. RESULTS: During pregnancy, the three highest rated determinants by women were "health concerns", "physiological changes", and "fatigue". Men perceived "health concerns", "health consciousness", and "influence of the pregnant partner" as important. Postpartum, the three highest rated determinants by women were "adaptation to rhythm of baby", "baby becomes priority", and "practical constraints because of the baby". Men perceived "adaptation to rhythm of baby", "fatigue". and "(lack of) anticipation" as important. According to the experts, "professional influence", "food knowledge", and "home food availability" received high priority scores for both sexes and during both periods. CONCLUSIONS: Priority for research and interventions should go towards tailored family-based approaches focusing on food education in a broad sense taking into account aspects such as health consciousness, self-efficacy skills, and the social and home food environment while being supported by healthcare professionals.

Validation of a Motor Competence Assessment Tool for Children and Adolescents (KTK3+) With Normative Values for 6- to 19-Year-Olds.

The use of the short form of the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK3) to evaluate children's and adolescents' motor competence (MC) is increasing. When combined with an alternating one-handed catching and throwing ball task, assessing eye-hand coordination (EHC), it has been shown that the different aspects of motor skills are adequately covered in one compact KTK3+ test battery, studied in 6- to 10-year-old children. The present study aimed to validate the KTK3+ test battery and to provide contemporary MC normative values for boys and girls from 6- to 19-year-olds. A total of 2,271 children and adolescents (1,112 boys, 1,159 girls) participated in this study and were evaluated on the four included test items: jumping sideways (JS), moving sideways (MS), balancing backwards (BB), supplemented by an EHC task. Children's participation in organised sport was registered using a demographic questionnaire. For the first objective, a factor analysis with multidimensional scaling demonstrated that the one-dimensional model provided the best fit, with all test items correlating to the same latent construct: "MC". This was further supported with moderate to good correlations between all four test items (r = 0.453-0.799). Construct validity was investigated with a three-way MANOVA, demonstrating a significant multivariate interaction effect between sex and age group (p = 0.001) as well as a multivariate main effect of sex, age group, and organised sport participation (p < 0.001). Boys outperformed girls on two out of the four tests (JS and EHC, p < 0.005), while girls were better than boys on the BB test (p < 0.005). Performance scores increased across age groups on all tests (p < 0.001). Only for the BB test score, a plateau effect was noted around the age of 12 years. Children and adolescents participating in sports generally outperformed their peers who were not involved in organised sports, on the present KTK3+ test battery. For the second objective, raw score normative values are provided separately for both sexes between 6- to 19-year-olds. In combination with the one-factor structure confirmation, these sex, age, and sport participation effects demonstrate the validity of the test battery. The provided normative values are useful to evaluate MC in children and adolescents from 6 to 19 years old. The use of only four test items that are identical across all ages makes the KTK3+ test battery a practical instrument to assess and compare MC development.

Differences between Young Children's Actual, Self-perceived and Parent-perceived Aquatic Skills.

As drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury/death in children worldwide, perceptions of their actual aquatic skills are of critical importance. Children's self-perceptions may influence the risks they take, and parental perceptions may influence the degree of supervision deemed to be necessary for children in and around water. Accordingly, we examined the differences between young children's actual, self-perceived and parent-perceived aquatic skills. Using a three-way repeated measures ANCOVA, we analyzed data from 134 child-parent dyads (56.0% boys; M age = 7.1, SD = 1.1 years; and 71.6% mothers). We measured self and parental perceptions of the child's aquatic skills with the 'Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence' (PSPWC), and we applied the exact same 17 test items of the PSPWC to assess the child's actual aquatic skill level in the water. Controlling for years of swimming school experience, within-subject differences between the total scores on the 'Actual Aquatic Skills Test' (AAST) and both the child- and parent-completed PSPWC indicated lower than actual estimates of the children's aquatic skill level. The degree of disagreement against the AAST was more pronounced in parents than in 6-7 year-old children but was similar between parents and 8-9 year-old children, with these patterns being evident regardless of the children's sex. Our study contributes to an ongoing validation of the PSPWC and represents a key advance in assessing and comparing children's actual and perceived aquatic skill competence, using perfectly aligned instruments. Future research and practice might explore children's actual aquatic skills in different contexts (e.g., open water), include perspectives of non-parent caregivers and assess perceived and actual water competence across development.

The Effect of a Tailored Intervention on Female Soccer Players' Hydration Status.

Numerous studies have reported that athletes' pre-training/-game hydration status is of concern. Up to now, only two cohort studies have examined the effect of an intervention aimed at improving pretraining/-game hydration status; however, without including a control group. Therefore, the aim of this quasi-experimental study was to examine whether and to what extent an individually tailored intervention focused on the benefits of being optimally hydrated before training or game would alter the hydration status of female soccer players. Two teams of young adult female soccer players were allocated to an intervention (n = 22; 19.8 ± 3.0 years) or a control group (n = 15; 22.8 ± 4.0 years). Players in the intervention group received an individually tailored intervention, based on Urine Specific Gravity (USG) measurements, which took place in between two training weeks. Before each training and match play, a urine sample was collected to determine players' hydration status. Mixed modelling was applied to assess within and between differences in hydration status over time. The pre-training/-game hydration status of the intervention group improved significantly, with players' mean USG-value decreasing from 1.013 ± 0.001 g/mL to 1.008 ± 0.002 g/mL (p = 0.005). In contrast, the mean USG-value in the control group increased significantly from 1.012 ± 0.002 g/mL to 1.016 ± 0.002 g/mL (p = 0.023), indicating a deterioration of their pre-training/-game hydration status. The individually tailored intervention did show a positive effect even though female soccer players in the present study were already reasonably well hydrated before the start of the intervention.

Misreporting of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Parents-to-Be: A Validation Study across Sex.

This study validated the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Context-specific Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (CSBQ) against accelerometry among parents-to-be. Sex-differences in potential misreporting of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) were also investigated. Self-reported total PA (TPA), light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-intensity PA (MPA), vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA), and SB of 91 parents-to-be (41 men and 50 women) were compared with Actigraph data according to sex. Furthermore, the extent of misreporting was compared between sexes. Strong correlations for TPA and weak-to-moderate correlations for LPA, MPA, VPA, MVPA, and SB were observed. Participants underestimated TPA by 1068 min/week (=17.8 h/week; -50%), LPA by 1593 min/week (=26.6 h/week; -83%), and SB by 428 min/week (=7.1 h/week; -11%) and overestimated MPA by 384 min/week (=6.4 h/week; +176%) and MVPA by 525 min/week (=8.8 h/week; +224%). Males overreported VPA more than females in absolute minutes per week (238 min/week, i.e., 4.0 h/week vs. 62 min/week, i.e., 1.0 h/week), whereas, in relative terms, the opposite (+850% vs. +1033%) was true. The IPAQ and CSBQ can be used with caution to estimate TPA and SB among parents-to-be considering a strong correlation but low agreement for TPA and a weak-to-moderate correlation but acceptable agreement for SB. We disadvise using these self-reports to estimate PA on the distinct intensity levels.

Motor performance is not related to injury risk in growing elite-level male youth football players. A causal inference approach to injury risk assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the causal relation between growth velocity and injury in elite-level youth football players, and to assess the mediating effects of motor performance in this causal pathway. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: We measured the body height of 378 male elite-level football players of the U13 to U15 age categories three to four months before and at the start of the competitive season. At the start of the season, players also performed a motor performance test battery, including motor coordination (Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder), muscular performance (standing broad jump, counter movement jump), flexibility (sit and reach), and endurance measures (YoYo intermittent recovery test). Injuries were continuously registered by the academies' medical staff during the first two months of the season. Based on the causal directed acyclic graph (DAG) that identified our assumptions about causal relations between growth velocity (standardized to cm/y), injuries, and motor performance, the causal effect of growth velocity on injury was obtained by conditioning on maturity offset. We determined the natural indirect effects of growth velocity on injury mediated through motor performance. RESULTS: In total, 105 players sustained an injury. Odds ratios (OR) showed a 15% increase in injury risk per centimetre/year of growth velocity (1.15, 95%CI: 1.05-1.26). There was no causal effect of growth on injury through the motor performance mediated pathways (all ORs were close to 1.0 with narrow 95%CIs). CONCLUSIONS: Growth velocity is causally related to injury risk in elite-level youth football players, but motor performance does not mediate this relation.

Differences in Weight Status and Autonomous Motivation towards Sports among Children with Various Profiles of Motor Competence and Organized Sports Participation.

This study aimed (1) to identify profiles in children based on actual motor competence (AMC), perceived motor competence (PMC), and organized sports participation (OSP), and (2) to examine differences among these profiles in weight status as well as autonomous motivation towards sports. Children's (N = 206; 112 boys; Mage = 10.83 ± 0.92 years) AMC, PMC, OSP, weight status, and autonomous motivation towards sports were measured using validated assessment tools. Cluster analyses identified three profiles with completely convergent levels of AMC, PMC, and OSP and three profiles with partially convergent levels. Children in the convergent profiles with average to high levels of AMC, PMC, and OSP had the most optimal profile, as they combined a healthier weight status with elevated levels of autonomous motivation, while the opposite was true for children with low levels on all three cluster-variables. Partially convergent profiles showed that AMC and PMC appear crucial for weight status, as profiles with relatively low levels of AMC and PMC had the highest weight status, independent of their OSP levels. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of promoting AMC, PMC, and OSP simultaneously to help children in achieving a healthy weight status and being autonomously motivated towards OSP.

The impact of non-residential grandchild care on physical activity and sedentary behavior in people aged 50 years and over: study protocol of the Healthy Grandparenting Project.

BACKGROUND: Finding effective ways to support people aged > 50 years to develop adequate levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior is necessary as these behaviors are positively related to the maintenance of functional independence and health-related quality of life. Given the widespread provision of grandparental child care, examining its impact on grandparents' energy-expenditure related behavior in the broader context of health is imperative. Therefore, the Healthy Grandparenting Project will aim to investigate the levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior, body composition and health-related quality of life in grandparents caring for their grandchildren and to compare these outcomes with non-caregiving grandparents and older adults without grandchildren, both momentarily and over time. An additional purpose is to identify possible predictors of potential changes over time. METHODS: A prospective cohort study will run over a period of 2 years, including three test occasions with a one-year time interval in between (T0 = baseline, T1 = 12 months, T2 = 24 months). A total of 276 participants will be recruited in Flanders through non-probability quota sampling (50-50% men-women), of which 92 caregiving grandparents, 92 non-caregiving grandparents and 92 non-grandparents. All three subsamples will be matched for age and sex. At each test occasion, anthropometric and body composition measurements will be determined. Participants' levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior will be assessed both objectively and subjectively by means of accelerometry and self-report questionnaires. Information about their grandchildren and the provided grandparental care (if applicable) as well as their health-related quality of life will also be assessed using self-report questionnaires. Mixed modelling will be used to identify differences in physical activity, sedentary behavior, body composition and health-related quality of life between the subsamples at baseline, as well as to evaluate and compare changes in energy-expenditure related behavior over time between subsamples and to identify predictors of the detected changes. DISCUSSION: The Healthy Grandparenting Project is an innovative study examining the levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior in caregiving grandparents, non-caregiving grandparents and non-grandparents. Obtained results will help in the development of campaigns to maintain/improve health in adults at a more advanced age. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NTC04307589 . Registered March 2020.

The Inter-Rater and Intra-Rater Reliability of the Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST) for Assessing Young Children's Motor Competence in the Water.

As children's actual aquatic skills are important for the prevention of drowning as well as their engagement in lifelong aquatic physical activity, researchers and practitioners should be able to assess this vital concept accurately and reliably. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST), consisting of 17 different test items for the assessment of young children's motor competence in the water. Six raters received a training and evaluation session on scoring the AAST, after which five of them assessed four test videos (of various children (n = 38) performing the test items) twice, with one to two weeks in between (i.e., test and re-test). Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were determined per test video and for the different AAST test items across videos using Gwet's Agreement Coefficient 2 (Gwet's AC2). The Gwet's AC2 for inter-rater reliability at the test varied from 0.414 to 1.000, indicating a moderate to perfect agreement between raters. For intra-rater reliability, it ranged from 0.628 to 1.000, demonstrating a good to perfect agreement between test and re-test scoring. In conclusion, the AAST is a promising tool to reliably assess young children's actual aquatic skills in an indoor swimming pool.

Long-term effectiveness of a fundamental motor skill intervention in Belgian children: A 6-year follow-up.

The aim of this study was (1) to examine the long-term effectiveness of the "Multimove for Kids" program, a 30-week fundamental motor skill intervention (approximately 1 hour per week) for typically developing children between 3 and 8 years, and (2) to determine the influence of participation in organized sports on motor competence (MC) six years after the intervention. Of the 992 children who took part in the "Multimove" program, 399 (intervention group: N = 228, control group: N = 171) were tested again at 6-year follow-up. MC was measured with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd Edition. To examine the long-term impact of "Multimove" on MC, and the effect of participation in organized sports a latent growth curve analysis was conducted. After the 30-week intervention, the intervention group outperformed the control group (ß = 5.57, P < .001). However, when the entire study period, including the 6-year follow-up, was considered, the intervention group made less progress in MC than the control group (ß = -0.41, P < .05). Looking at the engagement in organized sports, it was found that years of experience before the intervention had no significant influence on the evolution of MC over time, whereas a positive effect was observed for children's average sports participation (h/week) during the 6-year retention period (ß = 0.14, P < .001). Finally, children practicing predominantly object control-oriented sports during retention obtained slightly better MC scores at follow-up (ß = 0.01, P < .01). The "Multimove" intervention does not have a long-term effect on the development of MC. However, participation in organized sports has a positive influence on MC evolution over time.