Motor development, BMI and Self-efficacy in children

The aim of this study is to analyse the relationships amongst motor abilities, sport practice, physical self-efficacy and body mass index (BMI) in 250 males and 250 females (125 practising basketball and volleyball, and 125 nonpractising), aged 810 years old. The sample of 500 children has been measured by four motor tests (standing long jump, 1020 m sprint; 20 m slalom basket; and basketball throw). A questionnaire for evaluation of self-efficacy has been finally submitted to children. Results: Normal-weight subjects, independent of gender, succeed better than overweight and obese subjects (pB0.05), except in the test of the basketball throw.It can be concluded that the self-efficacy is correlated with BMI, gender and sport practice. Normal-weight subjects are more self-efficient than obese ones and overweight subjects; male subjects are more self-efficient than females and practising sports subjects more than non-practising ones .