TITLE:
Assessment of Motor Performances in Italian Primary School Children: Results of SBAM Project
AUTHORS:
Dario Colella, Domenico Monacis, Fabio Massari
KEYWORDS:
Health Promotion, Motor Development, Physical Self-Efficacy, Physical Education, Primary School
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.9 No.2,
May
9,
2019
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to present the results of the triennial SBAM regional
program aimed at monitoring 8-year old children in the Apulian region of
Southern Italy from 2013 to 2016. The program included at launch 17,102
children in the first year, 16,104 children in the second year and 14,847
children in the third year. The sample who completed the monitoring was less
than the number of children recruited for organizational and didactic reasons
(N = 15,231, N = 14,147 and N = 13,362). SBAM was a multi-component program and included different
integrated action plans: physical education, active transport (pedibus), and
methods for developing healthy eating habits. For each year, four motor tests
(long jump standing, shuttle run, 6 min walk test, and medicine ball throw), a
motor coordination test and two self-reports for evaluating self-efficacy and enjoyment
were proposed to all children. The results showed gender and group differences
(normal-weight vs. overweight-obese) in both motor tests and self-reports (p 0.05). The annual
results of the motor tests were sorted in deciles in order to have a regional
observation and monitoring database concerning the motor development skills
among children and preadolescents. Boys showed motor performance, perceived
self-efficacy scores and enjoyment higher than females in three years. Growth
influences the development of motor abilities; overweight and obese males and
females showed a different development of motor performance that was lower than
in children with a BMI in the norm. It is necessary to develop physical
education in primary school, increasing opportunities and adapting them to the
needs of all children. SBAM project highlighted the need to promote
interdisciplinary and inter-institutional actions to promote child health and
acquire physically active lifestyles.