Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2017

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Health and Sport Sciences

Degree Program

Exercise Physiology, MS

Committee Chair

Terson de Paleville, Daniela

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Immekus, Jason

Committee Member

Immekus, Jason

Committee Member

Caruso, John

Author's Keywords

motor proficiency; balance; visual efficiency; academic skills; cognitive tempo; physical activity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between motor proficiency, cognitive tempo, academic skills, balance and visual efficiency in elementary school aged children at a local Spanish immersion school. Forty-nine students and their parents provided consent to participate in the study. Motor proficiency was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2), cognitive tempo and academic skills were assessed using the Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory, Visual Efficiency was measured using Visual Efficiency Rating (VERA) and Balance was measured using a Neurocom® platform function for stability evaluation test to determine limits of stability. Significant correlations were found between academic skills and cognitive tempo, motor proficiency and academic skills and visual efficiency and balance. The findings of the study suggest children with greater motor skills tend to have greater academic skills, possibly due to greater development in regions of the brain that are highly active during both motor and cognitive skills, providing support for the inclusion of physical activity in programs aimed to improve cognitive development in children.

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