Search

The measurement of physical fitness (PF) is an important factor from many different perspectives. PF is a determinant of healthy child development as it is related to several health outcomes. However, existing taxonomies of the construct and frequently used fitness assessments vary concerning their theoretical assumptions and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, the construct of physical fitness covers a variety of motor domains, such as cardiovascular endurance, strength, coordination, or flexibility (eg, Caspersen et al., 1985). However, most fitness assessments provide a single (composite) score including all items as test outcome. This implicitly relates to a one‐dimensional structure of physical fitness, which has been shown for other motor performance assessments in early childhood (eg, Utesch et al., 2016). This study investigated this one‐dimensional structure for 6‐ to 9‐year‐old children within the item response theory framework (Partial Credit Model). Seven fitness subtests covering a variety of motor dimensions (6‐minute run, pushups, sit‐ups, standing broad jump, 20 m sprint, jumping sideways, and balancing backwards) were conducted to a total of 790 six‐year‐olds, 1371 seven‐year‐olds, 1331 eight‐year‐olds, and 925 nine‐year‐olds (48.2% females). Each item was transformed into five performance categories controlling for sex and age. This study indicates that a one‐dimensional testing of PF is feasible across middle childhood. Furthermore, for 6‐ and 7‐year‐olds, all seven items including balancing backwards can be accumulated to one factor. From the age of about 8 and 9 years balancing backwards seems to become too easy. Altogether, analyses show no diversification of PF across childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Success as a dancer is closely associated with positive dance judgments by perceivers. Although dancers' physical appearance (attractiveness, style) might affect dance judgments beyond dance-specific attributes (technique, expression), they have largely been unconsidered in previous studies. To contribute to a comprehensive explanation of real-life dance judgments, we applied the lens model, an approach explicitly developed to explain the emergence of social judgments by multiple attributes. Therefore, video-records of 70 solo performances were (1) rated regarding dancers' physical appearance, technique, and expression and (2) judged by 33 perceivers. Results of cross-classified mixed-effects models revealed that attributes of all domains were significantly related to dance judgements. Considered simultaneously, however, only dance-specific attributes contributed to the prediction of dance judgments. Additional moderation analyses underscored the importance of perceivers' expertise in judging dance. We discuss the lens model as suitable framework for a naturalistic approach to the study of aesthetic experiences and sports performances. • We studied judgments of 70 30-sec Modern dance solo performances (videos). • Due to the nested data structure, we applied cross-classified multilevel models. • Bivariately, physical appearance- and dance-related cues were used for dance judgments. • In controlled analysis, only dance-related cues were linked to dance judgments. • Moderation analyses underlined the importance of perceivers' expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Experience sampling study (N = 1,609) during early phases of COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. • Neuroticism uniquely related to negative affect mean levels und variability. • High neuroticism individuals attend to and worry more about the pandemic. • Neuroticism as an important predictor of affective responses to major health crises. Large-scale health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may evoke negative affective responses, which are linked to psychological maladjustment and psychopathology. Here, we shed light on the role of the personality trait neuroticism in predicting who experiences negative affective responses. In a large-scale experience-sampling study (N = 1,609; 38,120 momentary reports), we showed that individuals high in neuroticism experienced more negative affect and higher affective variability in their daily lives. Individuals high in neuroticism also (a) paid more attention to COVID-19-related information and worried more about the consequences of the pandemic (crisis preoccupation), and (b) experienced more negative affect during this preoccupation (affective reactivity). These findings offer new insights into the consequences and dynamics of neuroticism in extreme environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]