This systematic review and meta‐analysis synthesized evidence of the association between 24‐h movement behaviors and social–emotional health and cognitive development in children and adolescents aged 3–18 years from studies using compositional data analysis. Systematic literature searches were conducted on five electronic databases from January 2015 to December 2024. Studies were eligible if they assessed sleep, moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity, light intensity physical activity, and sedentary time. Eligible studies also examined associations between movement behaviors and social–emotional health or cognitive development using compositional data analysis in children and adolescents aged 3–18 years. Pooled effect sizes were estimated using cluster robust variance meta‐analysis. A total of 19 studies (5 longitudinal, 14 cross‐sectional) encompassing 11 826 participants were included. Meta‐analysis showed that engaging in more moderate‐to‐vigorous intensity physical activity, getting more sleep, and spending less time sedentary relative to other movement behaviors was favorably associated with social–emotional health; albeit, the observed relationships were small in magnitude. The association for sleep was stronger among adolescents compared to children. No components of 24‐h movement behavior compositions were associated with cognitive development. These findings suggest that engaging in healthy movement behavior compositions may be beneficial for social–emotional health in young people, although the link between 24‐h movement behavior compositions and cognitive development is less clear.

Background: Perceived physical competence (e.g. perceived motor skills, perceived athletic competence) is hypothesised to mediate the association between actual motor competence and physical activity in children, and this mediated association is expected to be stronger in older children and adolescents. However, no meta-analyses to date have synthesised the hypothesised mediation effect. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to systematically identify and synthesise the existing literature on the hypothesised mediation model between actual motor competence, perceived physical competence and physical activity in children and adolescents using structural equation modelling meta-analysis. Methods: Five electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2023 using a range of keywords for actual motor competence, perceived physical competence, physical activity and children/adolescents. Machine learning assisted screening was used to identify studies which reported the association between at least two of the variables in the hypothesised model in children and adolescents aged 4–18 years. One-stage structural equation modelling meta-analysis was used to test the hypothesised model. Moderation analysis was conducted to determine whether any of the model parameters differed as a function of children’s age. Results: A total of 218 reports that reported on 213 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Results from studies which examined the concurrent association between actual motor competence (gross motor, locomotion, object control), perceived physical competence, and physical activity demonstrated that perceived physical competence only had a small absolute (0.029 ≤ r ≤ 0.034) and relative (16.7–20.6% of total effect) mediating effect on the association between actual motor competence and physical activity. Results from studies which examined lagged associations (11% of included studies) also demonstrated a small bidirectional mediation effect of perceived physical competence. The moderation model demonstrated the mediation effect was significantly stronger in adolescents than children, albeit still weak. Conclusions: Perceived physical competence is not a strong mediator of the association between actual motor competence and physical activity in children and adolescents. Given that the association between perceived physical competence and actual motor competence with physical activity are largely independent, there may be benefits to targeting both motor skills and perceived physical competence to increase engagement in physical activity.

Physical literacy has received increased research attention over the last decade focusing on the unification of the definition, measurement, and application, including in school and health-based contexts. In 2019, Cairney et al. released a model positioning physical literacy holistically as a primary determinant of health and disease, mediated by physical activity (PA), the physiological and psychological adaptations associated with PA, and the individual and social/environmental/contextual factors or conditions that impact PA-related behaviour, which had a significant impact on physical literacy-related literature. To assess the impact of the model on the extant literature, and better understand the relationship between physical literacy, PA and health as proposed by Cairney et al., we conducted a citation content analysis and narrative review. 956 citations were identified citing the model proposed by Cairney et al. Of these, 16 used the model to construct a theoretical framework and were included in the extended analysis. Thirteen studies were observational, and participants were all children or young people with a total age range 4–20 years. Results demonstrate that physical literacy is related to health-related fitness variables including aerobic fitness, body composition, flexibility, and muscular strength and power; total PA and MVPA; and health literacy, and wellbeing, supporting the model proposed by Cairney et al. However, gaps remain in understanding critical components of the model (e.g., the proposed mediation pathways), and in clarifying the nature of the relationships in a variety of populations (e.g., clinical populations) and across the lifespan. A pragmatic approach to addressing these gaps is recommended.

Objectives: Reliable measurements of health‐related fitness—cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility—are imperative for understanding and tracking health‐related fitness from the preschool age. This study aimed to examine the test–retest reliability of field‐based (i.e., sit and reach [standard and back‐saver], standing long jump, grip strength); and laboratory‐based (i.e., Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test, Wingate Anaerobic Test) assessments of health‐related fitness in preschool aged children (4–5 years).Methods: Forty‐two typically developing children participated in both assessment time points separated by 2–3 weeks. All fitness assessments were administered individually and repeated in the same order by the same assessor. Heteroscedasticity was examined for each parameter. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess test–retest reliability.Results: All parameters were homoscedastic. Test–retest reliability for the field‐based tests and Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test parameters were moderate to good. Test–retest reliability for the Wingate Test parameters were good to excellent for maximum pedal rate, peak power, and peak power/kg; mean power and fatigue measured at 10 and 30 s demonstrated moderate to excellent test–retest reliability.Conclusion: The standard sit and reach, grip strength, and short‐term muscle power from the Wingate test are reliable assessments of health‐related fitness in preschool‐aged children.

Background: The movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people, who encounter specific health, and other, challenges are not well understood. This systematic review examines the 24-hour movement behaviors of LGBTQA+ young people compared with population estimates of meeting the 24-hour movement guidelines. Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to January 2024. Observational studies published in English and reporting quantitative data for physical activity, sedentary behavior, or sleep duration for LGBTQA+ individuals <24 years old were included. Data were narratively synthesized for children/adolescents (<18 years) and young adults (18–24 years), guided by the Cochrane Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines. Results: Fifty-six studies were included; 46 were of “fair” quality and 37 were conducted in the United States. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep outcomes were reported in 46, 11, and 14 studies, respectively. Ninety unique LGBTQA+ terms were identified. Based on outcomes reported in ≥1 study, and compared to population estimates, LGBTQA+ young people were less likely to meet aerobic physical activity and strength/resistance training guidelines. LGBTQA+ children/adolescents were less likely to meet the sleep guidelines. Young adults demonstrated similar adherence to sleep guidelines as population estimates. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that LGBTQA+ young people have suboptimal 24-hour movement behaviors; in some cases, worse than population estimates. Utilization of more robust measures of exposure and outcome variables is recommended, with a focus on sleep and sedentary behavior.

Both DCD and ADHD are recognised neurodevelopmental conditions, however, their co-occurrence and subsequent effects remain insufficiently explored. This paper aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between motor proficiency and ADHD symptoms in young children, and elucidating the combined impact on internalising and externalising symptoms. Data from the Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study (n = 532) were analysed. Children aged 6-9years were classified into typically motor developing (TMD; Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition [MABC-2] > 16th percentile), at risk for DCD (DCDr; MABC-2 6th ≤ 16th percentile), or with probable DCD (pDCD; MABC-2 < 6th percentile). ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale, 3rd Edition, and mental health symptoms assessed with the Child Behaviour Checklist for school-aged children (CBCL). 28% of children with pDCD and 19% of children with DCDr had clinically significant ADHD symptoms. Those with comorbid pDCD and clinically significant ADHD symptoms exhibited significantly elevated CBCL scores compared to those without clinically significant ADHD symptoms. The increased experience of mental health challenges in children with comorbid pDCD and clinically significant ADHD symptoms underscores the importance of universal screening for ADHD and mental health concerns in children with DCD.