Guest Editors: Dr. Isaac Estevan, Dr. An De Meester and Dr. Lisa M. Barnett

Aims and scope of the Special Issue

Global data demonstrate that few children and adolescents achieve physical activity recommendations, with participation rates declining each year across childhood and adolescence. Having adequate motor competence assists to promote enjoyment and engagement in a diversity of physical activities and contributes to positive trajectories of health at any level. So, it is important to enhance the quantity and quality of physical activity participation by supporting children and adolescents to develop and maintain motor competence.

Models of motor development suggest the existence of a dynamic and synergistic role between actual (what you can do) and perceived (how competent you think you are) motor competence with both these factors contributing positively (or negatively) to attributes related to good health such as health-related fitness, weight status, and psychological constructs (e.g., self-efficacy). The association between actual and perceived motor competence is weak in early childhood and strengthens as children age, because children’s cognitive ability develops. Indeed, in late childhood this association appears stronger than earlier in childhood, but is still only moderate. Even though the theoretical suggested associations are supported by cross-sectional studies, research in the field is fledgling.

The methods used in studies addressing the association between actual and perceived motor competence use diverse tests and approaches, which complicates the interpretation, comparison and discussion of results. We are interested in papers analyzing the relationship of the aforementioned factors and its implications for health. Particularly, prospective studies and experimental designs which: (a) use diverse approaches (i.e., variable- and/or person-centered approaches), (b) vary in the choice of measurement of actual motor competence (i.e., product- and/or process-oriented measures), (c) vary in how perceived motor competence is operationalised (i.e., physical self-perception, self-esteem, self-efficacy or specific perceived motor/athletic competence), (d) include diverse populations (i.e., typically and/or non-typically developing children and adolescents), and/or (e) include potential mediating factors (e.g., significant others).

Submission instructions

The Psychology of Sport and Exercise’s submission system will be open for submissions to our Special Issue from 01 Sep 2021. When submitting your manuscript please select the article type “VSI: Actual/perceived motor competence”. Please submit your manuscript before 31 Aug 2022.

All submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Once your manuscript is accepted, it will go into production, and will be simultaneously published in the current regular issue and pulled into the online Special Issue. Articles from this Special Issue will appear in different regular issues of the journal, though they will be clearly marked and branded as Special Issue articles.

Please see an example here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/psychology-of-sport-and-exercise/special-issue/10S6XW8RQ4R

Please ensure you read the Guide for Authors before writing your manuscript. The Guide for Authors and link to submit your manuscript is available on the Journal’s homepage at: https://www.elsevier.com/journals/psychology-of-sport-and-exercise/1469-0292/guide-for-authors .

Inquiries, including questions about appropriate topics, may be sent electronically to Prof. Isaac Estevan <isaac.estevan@uv.es>.