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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
There is evidence of a relationship between motor and cognitive development. The
literature has shown that of all the motor skills, fine motor skills are those that contribute most to
mathematical performance in preschool children. As this is a sensitive period in the development of
motor skills, low levels of physical activity in this period can compromise their development and
contribute to weight gain and obesity. The aim of this study was therefore to analyze the relationship
between mathematical and motor skills, physical activity levels, and obesity. The sample consisted
of 62 preschool children (32 males) with an average age of 4.63 0.81. The Weschler preschool
and primary scale of intelligence—revised arithmetic test was used to assess mathematical skills.
The tests to assess fine motor skills were the “Adapted Threading Beads Test” and the “Adapted
Visuomotor Integration Test”. The movement assessment battery for children-2, band 1, “Aiming
& Catching”, and “Balance” tests were used to assess gross motor skills. Levels of physical activity
were assessed using the “Preschool-age physical activity questionnaire” and obesity using the body
mass index. The results indicated that only the fine motor skills of visuomotor integration were
included in the multiple linear regression model (F < 0.001; r = 0.464; R2 = 0.215; p < 0.001), with the
exclusion of gross motor skills, physical activity levels, and obesity levels. Thus, it was concluded
that mathematical skills were only directly and significantly influenced by visuomotor integration.
However, visuomotor integration was positively and significantly associated with gross motor skills
(r = 0.269; p < 0.05) and not with levels of physical activity and obesity. Thus, gross motor skills
could contribute to improving visuomotor integration directly and consequently mathematical skills
indirectly. The results of this study suggest that the implementation of structured physical activity
programs can contribute to mathematical performance.
Description
Keywords
Math skills Motor skills Physical activity Obesity
Citation
Flores, Pedro Miguel; Coelho, Eduarda; Mourão-Carvalhal, Isabel; Forte, Pedro (2023). Relationships between math skills, motor skills, physical activity, and obesity in typically developing preschool children. Behavioral Sciences. eISSN 2076-328X. 13:12, p. 1-28
Publisher
MDPI