Grant-Beuttler M1, Hay J2, Beuttler R1, Kill K3, Grossnickle K4, Dulay R5, McCauley C6, Jennings J7
1Chapman University; Crean College of Health and Behavioral Science, Physical Therapy, Irvine, CA, United States, 2Brock University, Occupational Therapy, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 3Active Physical Therapy, San Diego, CA, United States, 4Center for Developing Kids, Pasadena, CA, United States, 5Kaiser Permanante, Physical Therapy, Pasadena, CA, United States, 6United Cerebral Palsy, Physical Therapy, Irvine, CA, United States, 7State of Hawaii, Department of Education, Physical Therapy, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Background: By 9 years of age, boys face higher social expectations to demonstrate mastery in physical activity than girls. This expectation is evidenced by higher referral rates for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) amongst boys and higher mean teacher evaluations of motor competence. Motor competence is highly linked to generalized self-efficacy for physical activity and, subsequently, to participation in physical activity. At what age higher social expectations begin to influence perceptions of self-efficacy has not been explored. The development of the electronic version of the Children´s Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection for Physical Activity scale (Grant-Beuttler et al., 2017; Hay et al., 1992) allows children age four and older to complete a survey on self-efficacy and provides an opportunity to investigate the relationship between motor performance and generalized self-efficacy.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate self-efficacy for physical activity in children ages 4-9 years of age to determine if gender differences are present prior to 9 year of age.
Methods: Subjects: Fifty-four children ages 4-9 years were recruited for random stratified sampling to ensure an equal number of subjects at each age (n=9) and within each gender (n=27 males/females).
Tests/Procedure: The eCSAPPA is a 10-15 minute survey completed on using a software platform and was designed to assess self-efficacy in pre-literate children. The eCSAPPA program reads descriptive options to children and allows them to chose a statement "most like them". Following completion of the eCSAPPA, each child´s motor proficiency was assessed using the Bruinicks-Oseretsky 2nd Edition (BOT2). Parents rated their child´s motor activity level.
Results: No gender differences were observed on the BOT-2 or the eCSAPPA scores. In boys, consistent significant moderate relationships were observed between the eCSAPPA total and factor scores and the BOT-2 total and subtest scores. The highest correlations were observed between the BOT-2 Body Coordination Standard Score and Total eCSAPPA (r=0.43, p= 0.025), the BOT-2 Total Motor Composite Score and the eCSAPPA Predilection factor (r=0.53, p 0.01), as well as the, the BOT-2 Bilateral Coordination Subtest and the eCSAPPA Adequacy Factor (r=0.39, p=0.04). Girls demonstrated no significant correlations between these correlations (r=0.07, r=0.11, r=0.02 respectively). Total eCSAPPA scores consistently increased for girls over age (mean= 52.8 age 4 to mean= 67.2 age 9) while boys decreased slightly (mean= 70.0 age 4 to mean=65.25 age 9). Correlations between parents ratings were significant between eCSAPPA Total Score (r=0.58, p .001), Adequacy Factor (r=0.61, p 0.001) and Predilection Factor (r=0.40, p=0.037), but not for girls (r=0.13, r=0.03, r=0.04 respectively).
Conclusion(s): The results from our sample demonstrate a clear and consistent difference amongst gender and are consistent with research in older children. Our results suggest that social expectations placed on boys may begin to shape their generalized self-efficacy regarding physical activity at a very young age.
Implications: Perceived generalized self-efficacy regarding physical activity has been shown to be highly predictive of future physical activity. Understanding gender differences of self-efficacy regarding physical activity and how self-efficacy develops may have important ramifications for developing programs designed to promote healthy physical activity over the life span.
Keywords: Pediatric, Self-efficacy for Physical Activity, Well-being
Funding acknowledgements: Faculty-Sponsored Student Scholarly/Creative Research Grant. Chapman University.($750.00)
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate self-efficacy for physical activity in children ages 4-9 years of age to determine if gender differences are present prior to 9 year of age.
Methods: Subjects: Fifty-four children ages 4-9 years were recruited for random stratified sampling to ensure an equal number of subjects at each age (n=9) and within each gender (n=27 males/females).
Tests/Procedure: The eCSAPPA is a 10-15 minute survey completed on using a software platform and was designed to assess self-efficacy in pre-literate children. The eCSAPPA program reads descriptive options to children and allows them to chose a statement "most like them". Following completion of the eCSAPPA, each child´s motor proficiency was assessed using the Bruinicks-Oseretsky 2nd Edition (BOT2). Parents rated their child´s motor activity level.
Results: No gender differences were observed on the BOT-2 or the eCSAPPA scores. In boys, consistent significant moderate relationships were observed between the eCSAPPA total and factor scores and the BOT-2 total and subtest scores. The highest correlations were observed between the BOT-2 Body Coordination Standard Score and Total eCSAPPA (r=0.43, p= 0.025), the BOT-2 Total Motor Composite Score and the eCSAPPA Predilection factor (r=0.53, p 0.01), as well as the, the BOT-2 Bilateral Coordination Subtest and the eCSAPPA Adequacy Factor (r=0.39, p=0.04). Girls demonstrated no significant correlations between these correlations (r=0.07, r=0.11, r=0.02 respectively). Total eCSAPPA scores consistently increased for girls over age (mean= 52.8 age 4 to mean= 67.2 age 9) while boys decreased slightly (mean= 70.0 age 4 to mean=65.25 age 9). Correlations between parents ratings were significant between eCSAPPA Total Score (r=0.58, p .001), Adequacy Factor (r=0.61, p 0.001) and Predilection Factor (r=0.40, p=0.037), but not for girls (r=0.13, r=0.03, r=0.04 respectively).
Conclusion(s): The results from our sample demonstrate a clear and consistent difference amongst gender and are consistent with research in older children. Our results suggest that social expectations placed on boys may begin to shape their generalized self-efficacy regarding physical activity at a very young age.
Implications: Perceived generalized self-efficacy regarding physical activity has been shown to be highly predictive of future physical activity. Understanding gender differences of self-efficacy regarding physical activity and how self-efficacy develops may have important ramifications for developing programs designed to promote healthy physical activity over the life span.
Keywords: Pediatric, Self-efficacy for Physical Activity, Well-being
Funding acknowledgements: Faculty-Sponsored Student Scholarly/Creative Research Grant. Chapman University.($750.00)
Topic: Paediatrics; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Outcome measurement
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Chapman University
Ethics committee: Chapman University Internal Review Board
Ethics number: 1011H118
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
