The relationship between motor competence and physical fitness from early childhood to adulthood: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction. The dimensionality of the latent trait(s) underlying motor assessments is debated since the 1920s. Two hypothesis about the latent structure exist: (1) the General Motor Ability Hypothesis (Brace, 1927), (2) the Specificity of Motor Ability Hypothesis (Henry, 1968). Burton, and Rodgerson (2001) suggest an increased specificity with increasing age. This study aimed at examining this hypothesis by analyzing a possible decrease in the relationship between motor competence (MC) and physical fitness (PF) from early childhood to adulthood. Methods. A total of 60 studies analyzing the relationship were identified between 1990 and 2016. Thirteen papers provided 27 samples with 73 different data points. Overall 15,101 participants aged 4.5 to 20.4 years (Mage = 12.94, SD = 4.84) were included. A random effects model was used to run the meta-analysis with age as a moderator. Results. After correction for multiple effects for dependent samples and small-sample correction, the association between MC and PF was r = .48. Further, age was not found to moderate the effect size, and, from a descriptive point of view, age even shows a slight positive effect. Discussion. This systematic meta-analytical integration of relations between MC and PF meets the General Motor Ability Hypothesis rather than specificity (cf. Cohen, 1992). The hypothesized differentiation with increasing age was not found. Although it is debatable whether co-linearity between motor domains or between motor tests were necessary in order to measure a general motor ability, results imply that a general motor factor exists in childhood and youth.