european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
4TH GRADERS’ SOCIAL STANDING WITH PEERS – A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE ROLE OF 1ST GRADE PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY, WEIGHT STATUS AND MOTOR PROFICIENCY
OMMUNDSEN, Y., AASEN GUNDERSEN, K., MJAAVATN, P.E.
NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF SPORT SCIENCES; UNIVERSITY OF AGDER, NORWAY; NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
NORWAY
Introduction: Young peoples’ physical - motor function and status when entering primary school may impact on their later psychosocial
development (Cummings et al., 2005). In order to identify targets for interventions to promote a healthy psychosocial functioning and
development during school years, the relative role of various influencing factors seem important to identify. In the present study we examined
the role of 1st grade pupils’ physical activity involvement, weight status, and motor functioning capability for their social status
among class peers four school years later, in 4th grade.
Methods: The total number of children originally sampled consists of 118 Norwegian 1st grade children (Girls N= 64; Boys, N= 54) representing
3 different schools. These children were followed from grade 1 (6 year old) to grade 4 (9 year old) in a study with the overall purpose
to examine determinants of children’s physical activity, and to study possible consequences of children’s physical and motor status,
functioning and development for their psychological and social development. The 80 children Girls N= 44; Boys, N= 36) that provided
data at both grade 1 and grade 4 make the sample for the present study. Measures included records of objectively measured physical
activity, weight status (BMI), test of motor proficiency (KTK) and a peer nomination procedure to obtain sociometric status among peers.
Results: When controlling for sociometric status at time 1 (beta = .20, p