Work

Mastery‐oriented motor competence intervention improves behavioral but not cognitive self‐regulation in head start preschoolers: Randomized controlled trial results

Year: 2022

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Motor competence and self‐regulation develop rapidly in early childhood; emerging work suggests motor competence interventions as a promising way to promote self‐regulation (e.g., behavioral inhibition; cognitive flexibility) in young children. We tested the impact of a mastery‐focused motor competence intervention (Children's Health Activity Motor Program [CHAMP])1on behavioral and cognitive aspects of self‐regulation among children attending Head Start. Grounded in Achievement Goal Theory, CHAMP encourages children's autonomy to navigate a mastery‐oriented motor skill learning environment. Children (Mage = 53.4 months,SD = 3.2) were cluster‐randomized by classroom (6 per condition) to an intervention (n = 67) or control condition (n = 45). Behavioral self‐regulation skills were assessed using the Head‐Toes‐Knees‐Shoulders task (HTKS). Cognitive self‐regulation skills were assessed using working memory and dimensional card‐sorting executive function tasks. Random‐effects hurdle models accounting for zero‐inflated distributions indicated that children receiving CHAMP, versus not, were almost 3 times more likely to have non‐zero HTKS scores at post‐test; OR: 2.98 (CI 1.53, 5.81); however, there were no effects on any cognitive aspects of self‐regulation (allp's > 0.05). Mastery climate motor competence interventions are an ecologically valid strategy that may have a greater impact on preschoolers' behavioral than cognitive aspects of self‐regulation.

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports

DOI: 10.1111/sms.14294