A good understanding of potential differences in motor coordination and weight status in children from rural and urban areas may advance targeted measures implemented by experts in the field of sports and physical education. This research study is focused on investigating differences in the total motor coordination score and weight status in 70 children aged (7 to 8) living in different residential areas within the territory of the city of Šabac, Republic of Serbia (35 urban and 35 rural areas). The Körperkoordinations Test für Kinder battery of tests was used for the assessment of the overall motor coordination. By application of t-test for independent samples, the obtained results indicate that there are statistically significant differences in the majority of the applied motor tests (walking backward, p=0.000; hop for height on one leg, p=0.033; side jumps, p=0.002), as well as in the total motor coordination scores (p=0.000) in favor of the children from rural environments. The weight status of children indicates no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p=0.376).
References
1.
Albarwani S, Al-Hashmi K, Al-Abri M, Jaju D, Hassan M. Effects of Overweight and Leisure-Time Activities on Aerobic Fitness in Urban and Rural Adolescents. Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. 2009. p. 369–74.
2.
Bathrellou E, Lazarou C, Panagiotakos D, Sidossis L. Physical activity patterns and sedentary behaviors of children from urban and rural areas of Cyprus. Central European journal of public health. 2007. p. 66–70.
3.
Bielicki T. Human Growth. A Comprehensive Treatise. Plenum Press; 1986.
4.
Bornstein D, Beets M, Byun W, Mciver K. Accelerometer-derived physical activity levels of preschoolers: a meta-analysis. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2011. p. 504–11.
5.
Chillón P, Ortega F, Ferrando J, Casajus J. Physical fitness in rural and urban children and adolescents from Spain. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2011. p. 417–23.
6.
Daniels S, Denker M, Andersen L. Health-related aspects of objectively measured daily physical acivity in children. Journal of Medicine. 2006. p. 133–4.
7.
Deforche E, Gentier B, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vaeyens I, Philippaerts R, Lenoir R, et al. A Longitudinal Analysis Of Gross Motor Coordination in overweight and obese children versus normal-weight peers. International journal of obesity. 2013. p. 61–7.
8.
Djordjic V, Radisavljevic S, Milanovic I. WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative in Serbia: a prevalence of overweight and obesity among 6-9-year-old school children. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2016. p. 1025–30.
9.
Fedewa A, Ahn S. The Effects of Physical Activity and Physical Fitness on Children’s Achievement and Cognitive Outcomes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2013. p. 521–35.
10.
Gu X, Chang M, Solmon M. Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Health-Related Quality of Life in School-Aged Children. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. 2016. p. 117–26.
11.
Gadžić A, Vučković I. Participation in sports and sociometric status of adolescents. Biomedical human kinetics. 2009. p. 83–5.
12.
Hinkley T, Salmon J, Okely A, Crawford D, Hesketh K. Preschoolers’ physical activity, screen time, and compliance with recommendations. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2012. p. 458–65.
13.
Keane E, Li X, Harrington J, Fitzgerald A, Perry I, Kearney P. Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and the Risk of Overweight and Obesity in School-Aged Children. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2017. p. 408–18.
14.
Kiphard E, Schilling F. Physical performance in relation to age, sex, social class and sports activities in kindergarten and elementary school. Perceptual and motor skills. 1974. p. 1168–70.
15.
Kosti R, Panagiotakos D. The epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents in the world. Central European journal of public health. 2006. p. 151–9.
16.
Lopes V, Rodrigues L, Maia J, Malina R. Motor Coordination as predictor of physical activity in childhood. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2011. p. 663–9.
17.
Lohman T, Roche A, Martorell R. Anthropometric standardization reference manual. Human Kinetics Books; 1988.
18.
Matić R, Kuljić R, Maksimović N. Motoričko ponašanje i socijalno-ekonomsko okruženje. Teme. 2010. p. 1247–60.
19.
Mcmurray R, Harrell J, Bangdiwala S, Deng S. Cardiovascular disease risk factors and obesity of rural and urban elementary school children. The Journal of Rural Health. 1999. p. 365–74.
20.
Molnar B, Gortmaker S, Bull F, Buka S. Unsafe to play? Neighborhood disorder and lack of safety predict reduced physical activity among urban children and adolescents. American journal of health promotion; 2004. p. 378–86.
21.
Ogden C, Carroll M, Curin L, Mcdowell M, Tabak C, Flegal K. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999-2004. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006. p. 1549–55.
22.
Ortega F, Ruiz J, Castillo M, Sjostrom M. Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: A powerful marker of health. International journal of Obesity. 2008. p. 1–11.
23.
Özdirenç M, Özcan A, Akin F, Gelecek N. Physical fitness in rural children compared with urban children in Turkey. Pediatrics International. 2005. p. 26–31.
24.
Petrić V, Cetinić J, Novak D. Razlike u funkcionalnim sposobnostima između učenika iz urbane i ruralne sredine. Hrvatski športskomedicinski vjesnik. 2010. p. 117–21.
25.
Prensky M. Listen to the natives. Educational Leadership. 2006. p. 8–13.
26.
Ruel M, Garrett J, Morris S, Maxwell D, Oshaug A, Engle P, et al. Urban challenges to food and nutrition security: a review of food security, health and caregiving in the cities. 1998.
27.
Seidell J. Obesity: a growing problem. Acta Pediatrica. 2008. p. 46–50.
28.
Sibley B, Etnier J. The Relationship between Physical Activity and Cognition in Children. 2003.
29.
Sylejmani MA;, Myrtaj B, Maliqi N, Gontarev A, Georgiev S, Kalac G, et al. Physical fitness in children and adolescents in rural and urban areas. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise. 2019. p. 866–75.
30.
Tinazci C, Emiroglu O. Physical fitness of rural children compared with urban children in North Cyprus: a normative study. Journal of physical activity and health. 2009. p. 88–92.
31.
Tinazci C, Emiroglu O. Assessment of Physical Fitness Levels, Gender and Age Differences of Rural and Urban Elementary School Children. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences. 2009. p. 1–7.
32.
Tsimeas P, Tsiokanos A, Koutedakis Y, Tsigilis N, Kellis S. Does living in urban or rural settings affect aspects of physical fitness in children? An allometric approach. British journal of sports medicine. 2005. p. 671–4.
33.
Veitch J, Timperio A, Crawford D, Abbott G, Giles-Corti B, Salmon J, et al. Is the neighbourhood environment associated with sedentary behaviour outside of school hours among children? Annals of behavioral medicine. Exercise and Quality of Life; 2011. p. 41–7.
34.
Mla: Milošević, Živan. Motor coordination and weight status in children according to area of residence. Exercise and Quality of Life. 2022. p. 41–7.
35.
Chicago: Milošević, Živan F, Sadri I, Sadri M, Sinđić M, Batez. Motor coordination and weight status in children according to area of residence. Exercise and Quality of Life. 2022. p. 41–7.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.