Relationships among motor competence, self-perceived competence and aggressive behavior differ between boys and girls aged 7 to 10: a network perspective

Cicero L. A. Costa; Giordano M. G. Bonuzzi; Morgana A. C. Silva; Ana C. C. Nunes; Michelly A. Alencar; Natali P. Silva; Paulo F. R. Bandeira

doi:10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.530

Relationships among motor competence, self-perceived competence and aggressive behavior differ between boys and girls aged 7 to 10: a network perspective

Authors

Cicero L. A. Costa Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil; Graduate Program in Movement Science, Universidade Federal do Piauí - [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4428-5111
Giordano M. G. Bonuzzi Faculty of Physical Education, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; Graduate Program in Movement Science, Universidade Federal do Piauí; Graduate Program in Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Franciso https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3751-2857
Morgana A. C. Silva Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0917-5494
Ana C. C. Nunes Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0600-7567
Michelly A. Alencar Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9240-2418
Natali P. Silva Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5799-3555
Paulo F. R. Bandeira Department of Physical Education, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Brazil; Graduate Program in Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Pernambuco; Graduate Program in Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Franciso https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8260-0189

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.530

Keywords:

Motor skills, Self-concept, Aggression, Child behavior, Sex factors

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Aggressiveness is a complex construct that can influence and be influenced by various factors during childhood. Behavioral aspects such as motor competence, along with psychosocial aspects such as self-perception of social acceptance and self-esteem, can affect aggressive behavior in boys and girls.

AIM:This study investigated the relationships between motor competence, self-perceived competence, and aggressive behavior in children aged 7 to 10 years, focusing on gender differences.

METHODS:We recruited a total of 87 children from economically disadvantaged and violence-prone areas in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. Motor competence was assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development, perception of competence was measured using the Self-Perception Profile for Children scale, and proactive and reactive aggressiveness was assessed with the Peer Aggression Behavior Scale. The differences between boys and girls were verified using Student's t-test. Network analysis was used to verify interactions between the variables investigated.

RESULTS:We identified that boys demonstrated positive correlation between aggression and specific motor skills, particularly locomotion skills, while we did not observe this relationship in girls. Centrality measures indicated that locomotion skills were pivotal in boys’ networks, whereas global self-worth was more influential in girls. Social acceptance showed differential correlations with proactive and reactive aggression, suggesting nuanced behavioral dynamics.

INTERPRETATION:The findings highlight the necessity of gender-tailored interventions to enhance motor skills, self-perception, and social behaviors in children, contributing to a deeper understanding of developmental dynamics in early childhood. The study underscores the importance of considering sociocultural and gender-specific factors in addressing aggressive behavior and motor competence in children.

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Costa, C. L. A., Bonuzzi, G. M. G., Silva, M. A. C., Nunes, A. C. C., Alencar, M. A., Silva, N. P., & Bandeira, P. F. R. (2025). Relationships among motor competence, self-perceived competence and aggressive behavior differ between boys and girls aged 7 to 10: a network perspective. Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior, 19(1), e530. https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v19i1.530

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Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Notes articles

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