Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41897162›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026

The Relationship Between Physical Literacy and Physical Fitness in Preschool-Aged Children.

Mirela Sunda, Iva Blazevic, Barbara Gilic Skugor

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mirela SundaFaculty of Kinesiology Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-6922-1133
Iva BlazevicFaculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, 52100 Pula, Croatia.
Barbara Gilic SkugorFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-8868-7315

Funding

Croatian Science Foundation UIP-2025-02-3974
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPhysical literacy (PL) is a multidimensional construct that supports lifelong engagement in physical activity, while physical fitness (PF) represents a key health-related outcome and an important component of PL in early childhood. Evidence on the relationship between PL and PF in preschool-aged children is still limited, particularly in Croatia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between PL and PF in preschool children and to explore age- and gender-related differences.

methodsA total of 103 preschool children (58 girls and 45 boys aged 4-6) participated in this cross-sectional study. PL was assessed using Physical Literacy in Children Questionnaire (PL-C Quest), covering physical, psychological, social, and cognitive domains, while PF and anthropometric variables were measured using the PREFIT test battery. Age and gender effects were analyzed using aligned rank transform ANOVA, while associations between PL domains and PF variables were examined using Spearman's rank correlations.

resultsNo significant gender differences were observed in PL or PF variables, except for cardiorespiratory endurance among 6-year-olds. Age had a significant effect on most PF indicators, with moderate-to-large effect sizes, but not on PL scores. Significant associations between PL and PF were age-dependent, with the strongest and most consistent correlations observed in 5-year-old children, particularly between total PL and shuttle run performance (ρ = 0.46,

conclusionsPF improves markedly with age during the preschool period, whereas PL appears relatively stable. Modest, but meaningful associations between PL and PF highlight the importance of early, holistic movement experiences that support not only physical development but also motivation, confidence, and understanding of physical activity. Future studies should investigate the parental influence on children's PL and PF.

Indexed as

early childhoodhealthmotor skillsmovement behaviorphysical activity

Identifiers

PMID41897162
PMCPMC13026352

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.