Cross-Cultural Comparison of Motor Competence and Health-Related Fitness in Young Adults From the United States of America, Italy, and Spain

Limited evidence exists examining associations between motor competence (MC) and health-related fitness in young adults. The study aims were to (a) determine group differences in MC and fitness in a sample of young adults, (b) examine the strength of the relationship between motor and fitness measures, and (c) determine the extent to which MC predicts fitness results. Young adults (n = 332, Mage = 21.47 ± 1.83) were recruited from seven universities across the United States of America, Italy, and Spain. Product-oriented measures of MC (kick and receive, throw–catch, jump, and Supine-to-Stand and Go) and health-related fitness (handgrip, plank, push-up, and 20-m shuttle run) were used. Group comparisons were analyzed using Kruskall–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U tests. In both motor and fitness assessments, the U.S. sample tended to perform significantly better than their Italian and/or Spanish counterparts. The Italian sample outperformed the Spanish sample in all motor and fitness measures, except for aerobic fitness. Associations between motor and fitness tests were determined via Pearson correlations ranging from ±0.20 to 0.70. Linear regression results indicate that sex, not MC, was the strongest predictive variable for fitness outcomes.