Gender Differences in Children Related to the Body Composition and Movement Coordination/Spolne razlike u tjelesnoj kompoziciji i njihova relacija s koordinacijom kod djece

The present research was conducted on a sample of 95 younger school children (age range 7-8 years) divided into two groups: 40 boys and 55 girls, in order to define the relation of basic anthropometric values, physical composition and BMI values to movement coordination by performing three motor tests. The ex post facto research design was used. Our results indicate that there are statistically significant gender differences related to the movement coordination in favor of the boys. Regression analyses results pointed out that the system of predictor variables in boys had statistically significant influence only on the manifestation of hypothetic motor factor of coordination for the variable Obstacle course backwards. All estimated predictor variables: body height, body weight, BMI, overall muscle tissue, overall fat tissue and overall water quantity positively correlate to this criterion. The predictor system did not have significant influence on other variables regarding the coordination assessment. Children still generally respond to the tasks; that is, the general motor factor is emphasized. A greater distinction should be expected once the children enter the prepubertal phase.