A multivariate multilevel analysis of youth motor competence. The Peruvian Health and Optimist Growth Study.

We use a multivariate multilevel model to study the links between physical fitness (PF) and gross motor coordination (GMC) and investigate the influence of predictors affecting their levels across age. We sampled 7918 Peruvians, aged 6-15 years, from sea-level, Amazon region and high-altitude. Composite markers of GMC and PF were derived (GMC _z and PF _z , respectively). BMI, biological maturation, and stunting were assessed. School characteristics were obtained via an objective audit. School contexts explained 35% of the associations between PF _z and GMC _z , whereas children's characteristics explained 65% of the total variation. On average, with increasing age, there was a greater increase in GMC _z (β = 0.79 ± 0.04, P < .001) than in PF _z (β = 0.15 ± 0.03, P < .001); boys outperformed girls (PF _z , β = 3.25 ± 0.08, P < .001; GMC _z , β = 1.58 ± 0.09, P < .001); those with lower BMI and ahead in their maturation had higher PF _z (β = -0.13 ± 0.01, P < .001; β = 1.09 ± 0.05, P < .001, respectively) and GMC _z (β = -0.18 ± 0.01, P < .001; β = 0.39 ± 0.06, P < .001, respectively) levels. Stunting was negatively related to PF _z (β = -0.30 ± 0.07; P < .001) and GMC _z (β = -0.30 ± 0.08, P < .001) and high-altitude Peruvians had significantly lower GMC _z (β = -0.93 ± 0.33, P < .001), and those living in the Amazon region had significantly higher PF _z (β = 1.21 ± 0.58, P < .001) compared to those living at sea level. A higher number of students was negatively related to PF _z (β = -0.016 ± 0.006, P < .001) and positively with GMC _z (β = 0.005 ± 0.003, P < .001); the duration of physical education classes was positively associated with PF _z (β = 0.70 ± 0.32, P < .001) and GMC _z (β = 0.46 ± 0.15, P < .001); and the existence of policies for physical activity was only negatively associated with GMC _z (β = -1.17 ± 0.34, P < .001). In conclusion, PF _z and GMC _z were positively correlated and child- and school-level traits predicted their levels.
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