The relative age effect on physical fitness in preschool children

Cupeiro, R. ; Rojo-Tirado, M.A. ; Cadenas-Sanchez, C. ; Artero, E.G. ; Peinado, A.B. ; Labayen, I. ; Dorado, C. ; Arias-Palencia, N.M. ; Moliner-Urdiales, D. ; Vidal-Conti, J. ; Conde-Caveda, J. ; Mora-Gonzalez, J. ; Vicente-Rodríguez, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Benito, P.J.

Resumen: The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of a relative age effect (RAE) on physical fitness of preschoolers. Anthropometry and physical fitness were assessed in 3147 children (3–5 years old) using the PREFIT battery. Based on the birth year, participants were divided into 3year groups (3-, 4- and 5-years). Within each year group, 4quarter groups were created: quarter 1, preschoolers born from January to March; quarter 2, from April to June; quarter 3, from July to September; quarter 4, from October to December. The MANCOVA analysis revealed a main effect of year group (Wilks’ ¿ = 0.383; F10, 5996 = 369.64; p < 0.001, ¿p 2 = 0.381) and of quarter (Wilks’ ¿ = 0.874; F15, 8276.6 = 27.67; p < 0.001; ¿p 2 = 0.044) over the whole battery of tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the existence of RAE at the preschool stage. In general, performance improved as the relative age increased (i.e., those born in quarter 1 performed better than those in the other quarters). Individualization strategies should be addressed within the same academic year not only in elementary or secondary years but also in preschoolers.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1746559

Año: 2020

Publicado en: Journal of Sports Sciences 38, 13 (2020), 1506-1515
ISSN: 0264-0414

Factor impacto JCR: 3.337 (2020)

Categ. JCR: SPORT SCIENCES rank: 30 / 88 = 0.341 (2020) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.208 - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (Q1) - Sports Science (Q1) - Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/EXERNET-DEP2005-00046
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/RETICS-ISCIII-ERDF/RD16-0022
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/JIUZ-2014-BIO-08

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Educación Física y Depor. (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)