Systematic review and meta-analysis of physical activity interventions to increase elementary children's motor competence: a comprehensive school physical activity program perspective

• Published in: BMC public health 2024-03, Vol.24 (1), p.826-16, Article 826
• Main Authors: Moon, Jongho, Webster, Collin A, Stodden, David F, Brian, Ali, Mulvey, Kelly Lynn, Beets, Michael, Egan, Cate A, McIntosh, Lori Irene Flick, Merica, Christopher B, Russ, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autism; Body weight; Child; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Context; Demographic aspects; Effectiveness; Elementary schools; Evaluation; Exercise; Exercise for children; Fundamental motor skills; Health aspects; Health Promotion - methods; Heterogeneity; Humans; Meta-analysis; Motor ability; Motor Skills - physiology; Participation; Physical activity; Physical education; Physical fitness; Physical fitness for children; Reviews; School Health Services; Schools; Software; Statistical analysis; Systematic review; Teenagers; Well being; Whole-of-school approach
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18145-1

Regular participation in physical activity (PA) benefits children's health and well-being and protects against the development of unhealthy body weight. A key factor in children's PA participation is their motor competence (MC). The comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) framework offers a way to classify existing PA interventions that have included children's MC development and understand the potential avenues for supporting children's MC. However, there have been no systematic reviews or meta-analyses of PA interventions and their effects on the MC of elementary school children (aged 5-12 years) from a CSPAP perspective. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. We searched seven electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Embase, ERIC, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) for articles on 29 November 2021. The CSPAP framework was used to categorize the different intervention approaches. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020179866). Twenty-seven studies were included in the review, and twenty-six studies were included in the meta-analysis. A wide range of PA intervention approaches (e.g., single component or multicomponent) within the context of the CSPAP framework appear to be promising pathways in enhancing children's MC. The results of the aggregate meta-analysis presented that effect sizes for the development of MC from pre-and post- intervention ranged from moderate to large (Hedges' g = 0.41-0.79). The analysis revealed that the predicted moderators, including study length, delivery agent, and study design, did not result in statistically significant moderate variations in MC outcomes. There was, however, considerable heterogeneity in study design, instruments, and study context, and studies were implemented in over 11 countries across diverse settings. This study uniquely contributes to the literature through its primary focus on the effectiveness of PA interventions on elementary children's MC. This review emphasizes the importance of customizing CSPAP to fit the specific characteristics of each school setting, including its environmental, demographic, and resource attributes. The effectiveness of CSPAP, particularly its physical education (PE) component, is significantly enhanced when these programs are adapted to address the unique needs of each school. This adaptation can be effectively achieved through targeted profe