Scheduled for Psychology I and Motor Behavior Free Communications, Wednesday, April 2, 2003, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM, Convention Center: 304


Learner and Environmental Constraints Influencing Fundamental Motor Skill Development of At-Risk Hispanic Preschoolers

Jacqueline D. Goodway and Richard Suminski, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

The Hispanic population has been targeted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a group for which more data are needed in an attempt to promote physical activity. Specifically, little is known about the fundamental motor skill (FMS) development of young Hispanic children. Given that FMS are considered to be the building blocks to later physical activity, it seems important to examine the developmental status of these skills and the variables that might influence them. From a theoretical perspective, Newell (1984) suggests that motor performance is a product of constraints imposed by the learner, task and environment. In line with this theory, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of environmental and learner constraints on the locomotor and object control (OC) skill development of Hispanic preschoolers. Participants consisted of 122 Hispanic preschoolers (mean age 59.6 months) who were enrolled in a compensatory preschool program and identified as at risk of developmental delay. Learner constraints (gender and body mass index [BMI]) and environmental constraints (number of biological and environmental risk factors, activity level of child, and family support for the child's development) were evaluated and entered into two regression equations with the two dependent variables being locomotor and OC skill development as measured by the Test of Gross Motor Development (Ulrich, 1985). The five predictor variables accounted for 14% of the variance in OC skill development with gender (p=.012) and family support (p=.048) being significantly predictive. For locomotor skill development, the five variables accounted for 15% of the variance with BMI (p=.021) and family support (p=.003) being significantly predictive. Interestingly, the extent of family support for child development was related to both locomotor and OC development suggesting implications for the involvement of families in early intervention with this population. Gender was associated with OC skill development and reflected the findings in the motor development literature that males outperform females in OC skills. BMI was related to locomotor development suggesting that as a child's BMI increased, they experienced more difficulty moving their mass through space during the performance of locomotor skills. These findings have implications for the development of motor skill interventions for this population of children.

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