Does perceived motor competence and health-related physical fitness mediate the relationship between actual motor competence and physical activity in middle and late childhood?

The mediating pathways linking AMC to MVPA demonstrate a distinct developmental shift. Health-related physical fitness serves as a prominent mediator in middle childhood, yet its influence attenuates in late childhood. In contrast, PMC maintains a stable mediational role across both periods. Interventions designed to promote PA via motor competence must be developmentally tailored: prioritizing fitness enhancement in middle childhood and shifting focus to address evolving psychosocial barriers in later years.