In this section, all the analyses are done with the total scores of the assessment tools and separately for boys and girls. Further information on more detailed differences in the TGMD-3 can be found in publication II. The other assessment tools, KTK and PMSC, and the skills that they measure, were not further studied as the physical living environment seemed to have no differences regarding dependent variables (Table 7).
Perceived LM skills Perceived BS Perceived PMSC
Boys 19,66 22,68 42,32
Girls 20,26 21,64 41,85
All 19,99 22,16 42,15
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
PMSC points
(max 52 p.)92
TABLE 7 Characteristics of the living environment with the study sample based on TGMD-3.
Daily
environment Localities Childcare
centres Children (n) % of the study sample Geographic
location (°C1 / h/day2)
n n All Girls Boys All Girls Boys
Southern (-6.6 to +17.7/
6 to 19)
10 17 449 224 225 47.5 47.4 47.5
Central (-8.1 to +16.8/
5 to 20)
10 13 335 163 172 35.4 34.5 36.4
Northern (-11.2 to +15.1/
2.5 to 24)
4 7 161 85 76 17.1 18.1 16.1
Residential density (n/km2) Metropolitan (876.4–
2,964)
2 6 189 94 95 20.0 19.9 20.0
Cities (24,65–
762.9)
13 17 421 211 210 44.5 44.7 44.4
Rural areas (4.93–
64.35)
5 7 183 98 85 19.4 20.8 18.0
Countryside (1.49–
8.56)
4 7 152 69 83 16.1 14.6 17.5
In total sample 24 37 945 472 473 100 49.9 50.1
Values are reported as mean (standard deviation) scores or percentages (%).
1Mean temperature in February (coldest month) and in July (warmest month).
2The amount of daylight in 21st of December (least daylight; winter solstice) and 21st of June (most daylight; summer solstice). TGMD-3 = Test of gross motor development – third version, h = hours, °C = Celsius, km2 = Square kilometre.
93 5.4.1 Geographical location
When comparing the TGMD-3 gross motor index between boys and girls in three different geographical locations (Southern, Central and Northern Finland), we found no differences in LM, BS or the TGMD-3 gross motor index (Figure 20) in this study.
FIGURE 20 TGMD-3 gross motor index based on geographical location of the residence (n = 945). Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. TGMD-3
= Test of Gross Motor Development –third version, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n = Number of children.
Similarly, no difference was found in the KTK assessment tool concerning geographical locations regardless of the gender of the child. In conclusion, geographical location seems to offer equal opportunities for children to develop their motor skills regardless of the residence locale (Figure 21).
Southern (n=449) Central (n=335) Northern (n=161)
Boys 53,42 53,67 53,13
Girls 50,48 52,12 52
All 51,95 52,9 52,57
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Gross motor index points
(max. 100 p.)94
FIGURE 21 KTK total scores based on geographical location of the residence (n = 437).
Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. KTK =
Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n = Number of children.
While investigating differences between three geographical locations in PMC, no differences were found in the PMSC total score regardless of gender (Figure 22).
FIGURE 22 PMSC total scores based on geographical location of the residence (n = 472).
Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. PMSC = Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n = Number of children.
Southern (n=191) Central (n=166) Northern (n=80)
Boys 98,68 103,31 105,66
Girls 102,66 112,09 102,82
All 100,67 107,69 104,24
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
KTK points
(max. 193 p.)Southern (n=198) Central (n=184) Northern (n=90)
Boys 42,89 41,51 43,57
Girls 40,89 41,88 43,47
All 41,89 41,69 43,52
0 10 20 30 40 50
PMSC points
(max. 52 p.)95 Based on geographical location, more differences emerged in the time spent outdoors between boys and girls and in participation in organised sport rather than in MC or PMC. In time spent outdoors, boys from Central Finland spent the most time outdoors (mean 5.53, SD 1.10) and significantly more than boys living in Southern Finland (p = 0.028, mean 4.94, SD 1.15). Also, boys from Northern Finland (mean 5.37, SD 1.10) spent more time outdoors than boys from the southern part of the country (p = 0.031).
Among girls, the children from Central Finland (mean 5.12, SD 1.24) spent more time outdoors than girls from the southern part of the country (p = 0.03, mean 4.83, SD 1.15), while girls from the southern region (mean 56.98 mins/week, SD 63.05) participated more in organised sport than girls from Central Finland (p
= 0.012, 35.28 mins/week, SD 52.63). For further information, see publication II.
5.4.2 Residential density
Based on residential density, differences were also found between the four residence locales in Finland (metropolitan area, cities, rural areas and countryside) in MC, particularly among girls.
Among boys, those from the countryside outperformed boys from rural areas in LM skills (p = 0.014). Boys from the countryside scored higher in BS than boys from the metropolitan area (p = 0.048). Boys from the countryside had a higher the TGMD-3 gross motor index than boys from rural areas (p = 0.030). To see the mean values and SD, see Figure 23. For further information, see also publication II.
Girls living in the countryside outperformed other girls in LM, BS and the TGMD-3 gross motor index. In LM skills, the differences between girls living in the countryside compared to other categories were as follows: Metropolitan area (p = 0.05), cities (p = 0.025), and rural areas (p = 0.015). In BS, girls living in the countryside outperformed those in the metropolitan area (p = 0.013), cities (p = 0.015) and rural areas (p = 0.002). Finally, in the TGMD-3 gross motor index, girls living in the countryside scored higher as follows: Metropolitan area (p = 0.011), cities (p = 0.010) and rural areas (p = 0.024). Additionally, girls from the metropolitan area had better LM skills than girls from rural areas (p = 0.025), while girls from rural areas had better BS (p = 0.015) and scored higher in the TGMD-3 gross motor index than girls from the metropolitan area (p = 0.010).
Mean values and SD are described in Figure 23. For further information, see publication II.
96
FIGURE 23 TGMD-3 gross motor index based on categorisation with residential density of the place of residence (n = 945). Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. TGMD-3 = Test of Gross Motor Development –third version, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n =
Number of children.
In KTK, based on residential density, differences were found only between girls from the metropolitan area and girls from the countryside. Girls from the countryside outperformed girls from the metropolitan area (p = 0.041); however, this difference disappeared (p = 0.247) when the results were adjusted for age.
No differences were found among boys (Figure 24).
Metropolitan area
(n=189) Cities (n=421) Rural areas (n=183) Countryside (n=152)
Boys 52,13 54,15 50,51 55,95
Girls 49,72 50,67 50,66 56,42
All 50,92 52,41 50,59 56,19
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Gross motor index points
(max. 100 p.)97
FIGURE 24 KTK total score based on residential density of the place of residence (n = 437). Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. KTK =
Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n = Number of children.
In PMC, no differences were found between residential densities and PMSC total score (Figure 25).
FIGURE 25 PMSC total score based on residential density of the place of residence (n = 472). Mean values adjusted for age in months (points) and SD. PMSC = Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence, max. = Maximum amount of points (p.), SD = Standard deviation, n = Number of children.
Metropolitan area
(n=72) Cities (n=212) Rural areas (n=93) Countryside (n=60)
Boys 99,87 103,5 94,99 105,7
Girls 100,81 106,38 104,2 116,36
All 100,34 104,94 99,59 111,03
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
KTK points
(max. 193 p.)Metropolitan area
(n=75) Cities (n=223) Rural areas (n=108) Countryside (n=66)
Boys 42,89 42,41 42,76 42,07
Girls 41,31 41,51 41,91 43,23
All 42,1 41,96 42,34 42,92
0 10 20 30 40 50
PMSC points
(max. 52 p.)98
Concerning the differences in time spent outdoors based on residential density, boys from the metropolitan area (mean 4.83, SD 1.17) spent less time outdoors compared to the boys from cities (p = 0.006, mean 5.37, SD 1.09) and the countryside (p = 0.012, mean 5.38, SD 1.07). Additionally, boys living in rural areas (mean 5.16, SD 1.20) spent less time outdoors than boys living in the countryside (p = 0.006).
Among girls, those from the countryside (mean 5.32, SD 1.09) spent more time outdoors than girls from metropolitan (p = 0.011, mean 4.80, SD 1.14) or rural areas (p = 0.010, mean 4.80, SD 1.15). Girls from the metropolitan area participated more in organised sport (65.78 min/week, SD 67.09) than girls from cities (p = 0.030, mean 42.67 min/week, SD 60.61) or rural areas (p = 0.032, mean 41.22 min/week, SD 48.52). Finally, girls from the countryside (mean 52.18 mins/week, SD 59.94) participated more in organised sport than girls from rural areas (p = 0.030). For further information, see publication II.