A model of physical literacy, parental involvement, and social factors on motor development in children with social development as a moderator

Introduction: Early motor development is crucial for children's growth, but inactivity, lack of parental awareness, and excessive screen time hinder progress. Urgent interventions are needed to promote active lifestyles from an early age. Objective: this study explores the moderating effects of social development on the relationship between parental physical literacy, parental involvement, and other social factors, and child motor development. Methodology: Utilizing a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional design, online surveys with Likert scales and Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis were employed. Results: The findings underscore the positive influence of parental physical literacy and parental participation in physical activities on child motor development, particularly among children who exhibit strong social skills. Discussion: However, social variables such as norms and social support did not demonstrate a significant impact. The study's findings indicate a strong correlation between parents' physical literacy, their involvement in physical activities, and children's social development. Conclusions: The study's conclusions suggest that enhancing motor development in children can be achieved through parental training in physical literacy and the promotion of physical activities during childhood.