Relationship Between Composite Motor Skill Competence And Physical Fitness Among College-aged Students

BACKGROUND: Motor skill competence (MSC) has been associated with health-related outcomes such as physical activity, physical fitness (PF), weight status, and perceived competence in childhood and adolescence. However, the relationship between MSC and PF level in college-aged young adults has largely been underexplored. To develop interventions aimed at improving PF in young adults, understanding the influence of MSC on PF is crucial. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between composite MSC and composite PF of college-aged adults, with a hypothesis that high levels of MSC would be positively correlated to high PF outcomes. METHODS: College students aged 18-25 years (n = 71) from a university in the Southwestern US performed a battery of MSC tests (throw/catch, kick/receive, standing long jump) and PF tests (handgrip strength, plank, push-up, PACER). Composite maximal scores were derived separately for MSC and PF by summing maximal scores accrued across all trials and retaining the summed score as the composite. Means and standard deviations were used to describe the data. A simple linear regression was conducted to examine the relationship between composite MSC and composite PF. RESULTS: Maximal composite MSC scores were 209.94 ± 47.87 and maximal composite PF scores were 237.98 ± 102.12. Composite MSC significantly predicted composite PF, F (1, 69) = 12.84, p < .001. There was a significant, positive, moderate relationship between composite MSC and PF, r = .40, p < .001. Composite MSC accounted for 15.7% of the variation in composite PF with adjusted R2 = 14.5%, a medium effect. CONCLUSION: About 16% of the variance in PF was explained by MSC, suggesting that college-aged adults with good MSC are likely to also have high PF. These results also suggest that having requisite skill competence may be an underlying factor for young adults who are more physically fit than their peers. These findings stress the importance of incorporating motor skill development into youth fitness programs in order to promote lifelong PF and wellness.