The Relationship Between Motor Competence, Body Composition, Handgrip Strength and Sports Participation Among Icelandic Adolescents

Abstract

Motor competence can affect participation in sports and physical activity among adolescents. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between motor competence, body composition, handgrip strength (HGS) and sports par¬ticipation in 13-16 years old adolescents, as well as to examine gender differences. Data for 177 boys and 153 girls were collected and analysed. Body composition was assessed by measuring height, weight, waist circumference, body fat percentage (FAT%), and calculating body mass index (BMI). Motor competence was determined by using the Movement Assessment Battery test (MABC-2) which consists of eight tasks that measure aiming and catching, balance, and manual dexterity. Handgrip strength was assessed by using hand dynamometer and the question about sports participation was retained from a detailed questionnaire for the current study. The results of the study show that girls have better motor competence in the 13-, 14- and 15-year-old age groups (13 years girls: 10.3, boys: 8.7; 14 years girls: 10.3, boys: 9.2; 15 years girls: 10.1, boys: 8.6, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the genders in the 16-year-old age group (girls: 9.6, boys: 9.0, respectively). HGS had a positive correlation with FAT% (r=0.5, p<0.05) and waist circumference in 13- year-old girls (r=0.5, p<0.05), BMI in boys age of 16 (r=0.3, p<0.05), and FAT% (r=0.4, p<0.05) and MABC-2 in girls 16-years old (r=0.6, p<0.05). Participation in organized sports activities was the most important factor when predicting motor competence in 13- to 16-year-old adolescents (t=3.7, p<0.05). Future studies should consider the development of gender differences from a long-term perspective, and in that sense, longitudinal studies could give better explanations.