Motor Proficiency in Young Children: A Closer Look at Potential Gender Differences

SAGE Open

Fotini Venetsanou¹ 

关键词: sports;    exercise medicine;    behavioral sciences;    early childhood;    educational psychology;    counseling;    education;    social sciences;    developmental psychology;    experimental psychology;    psychology;    sex;    gender;    sociology;    curriculum;   

DOI  :  10.1177/2158244015626226

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

This study aimed to examine motor proficiency in young children, focusing on potential gender differences. For that purpose, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Long Form (BOTMP-LF) was administered to 540 children (272 boys), 4½ to 6 years old. First, the 2 (sex) × 4 (age groups) ANOVA computed on children’s total BOTMP-LF scores showed that age had a statistically significant effect, whereas gender did not. Second, the one-way MANCOVA applied on subtest scores, with age as covariate, revealed statistical significant gender differences; however, η2 values were found to be small or moderate. Finally, the MANCOVA applied on items where significant gender differences have been reported showed a significant effect of gender. Nonetheless, η2 values exceeded the limit of practical significance only on two items (“standing on preferred leg on floor”, “throwing a ball at a target with preferred hand”) that are associated with gender-stereotyped activities. It can be concluded that (a) besides statistical significance, effect sizes should be examined for the results of a study to be adequately interpreted; (b) young boys’ and girls’ motor proficiency is similar rather than different. Gender differences in specific skills should be used for movement programs to be individualized.

【 授权许可】

CC BY