Handgrip strength as a moderating variable in the relationship between motor self-efficacy and perceived physical literacy in school physical education

Handgrip strength is an objective measure of muscular strength, while motor self-efficacy is associated with motor performance. Both constructs are conceptually related to perceived physical literacy, which reflects children’s self-perceptions in domains connected to participation in physical activity. To analyze the moderating role of handgrip strength between motor self-efficacy and perceived physical literacy in children and adolescents.

A quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional design was used. Participants aged 10–17 years (N = 1054) were recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Handgrip strength was assessed using hand-held dynamometry, motor self-efficacy was measured using the Motor Self-Efficacy Scale, and perceived physical literacy was evaluated using the Spanish Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument for Adolescents (S-PPLI).

Group differences were tested using Mann–Whitney U and mediation and moderation models were estimated using nonparametric bootstrapping (5,000 resamples). Boys showed significantly higher scores than girls in handgrip strength, motor self-efficacy, and all dimensions of perceived physical literacy. Secondary students also presented higher handgrip strength than primary students.

Moderation analyses revealed that the interaction term (motor self-efficacy × handgrip strength) was significant across all dimensions (p < .001). The association between motor self-efficacy and perceived physical literacy was stronger at higher levels of handgrip strength. Handgrip strength acts as a moderating factor that strengthens the relationship between motor self-efficacy and perceived physical literacy, suggesting that objective measures of muscular strength may provide complementary information when examining perceived physical literacy in educational contexts.

This research received no external funding. Grupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, 8370040, Chile Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, 10003, Spain The authors declare no competing interests. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Extremadura (Registration code 186/2021).

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