Construct validation of a general movement competence assessment utilising active video gaming technology

Introduction: The assessment of children's motor competence is an important concern as physical inactivity has been linked with poor movement quality and aspects of well-being such as low self-esteem. The General Movement Competence Assessment (GMCA) is a new instrument that was developed using active video gaming technology.Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the internal validity of the GMCA in a sample of 253 typically developing children (135 boys and 118 girls), aged 7-12 years old (9.9 +/- 1.6 years). Further, a second-order confirmatory factor analysis examined how the four constructs fit onto the higher-order variable of movement competence.Results: Results revealed that the first-order four-construct model of the GMCA was a good fit (CFI 0.98; TLI 0.98; RMSEA 0.05). The second-order confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the four constructs loaded directly onto movement competence. It accounted for 95.44% of the variance which is approximately 20% more than the first-order model. The internal structure of the GMCA identified four constructs of movement competence (i.e., stability, object-control, locomotion and dexterity) based on the study sample.Discussion: Performance trends in the general movement competence assessment support empirical evidence that movement competence improves as children age. Results suggest that active video games have considerable potential to help assess general motor competency in the wider population. Future work may consider the sensitivity of motion-sensing technologies in detecting developmental changes over time.

Automated summary

Assessing children's motor competence is crucial for addressing physical inactivity and improving aspects of well-being. The General Movement Competence Assessment (GMCA), developed using active video gaming technology, was validated in a sample of typically developing children aged 7-12 years. The GMCA demonstrated good internal validity, with four constructs of movement competence (stability, object-control, locomotion, and dexterity) identified. The study highlights the potential of active video games for assessing general motor competency and suggests considering motion-sensing technologies for detecting developmental changes over time.