Author(s): MALI, A., ŠLOSAR, L., PUŠ, K., MARUSIC, U. , Institution: SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CENTRE KOPER (ZRS KOPER), Country: SLOVENIA, Abstract-ID: 2355

INTRODUCTION:
Motor imagery (MI) involves mentally stimulating actions without physical movement and can be kinaesthetic (KI) or visual, where one can either imagine the sensation of the movement in the body or imagine the image of movement from internal (IVI) or external (EVI) perspective. Throughout various development phases, children acquire and refine a multitude of skills. However, the process by which MI develops with age and the factors that play the most significant role in its progression remain unclear. Research on the combination of MI and motor skills has predominantly targeted the adult population, and more studies need to explore the impact of regular physical activity on MI and its developmental trajectory during childhood. This study aims to compare the results of MI after one year and recognise any changes in the development of MI in primary school children.
METHODS:
The Movement Imagery Questionnaire for children (MIQ-C) was used to measure the MI ability of forty-four children (twenty-one boys and twenty-three girls) between the ages of 7 and 13 years. The MIQ-C was performed twice, with assessments conducted a year apart. The results were compared between the two assessment days, and gender and athletic status differences (athletes N = 24; non-athletes N = 19) were evaluated. Correlations between MI ability and age were also determined.
RESULTS:
Correlation testing between age and MI perspectives revealed significant associations with IVI and EVI at both Day 1 (IVI rs = 0.476, P = 0.001; EVI rs = 0.600, P = 0.000) and Day 365 (IVI rs = 0.453, P = 0.002; EVI rs = 0.479, P = 0.002). Notably, KI showed no correlation with age across both assessment periods (Day 1: rs = 0.271, P = 0.075; Day 365: rs = 0.253, P = 0.102). Mann – Whitney U test showed there were differences in KI between athletes and non-athletes on both Day 1 (KI p = 0.023) and Day 365 (KI p = 0.012), and no difference in IVI and EVI (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
The preliminary results of this longitudinal study show no difference in MI between the two assessments. It highlights that on both assessment days, there was a significant association between age and IVI and EVI, suggesting that the development of MI is related to age-related changes in internal and external perspectives. The KI is better developed in children involved in sports, indicating the potential impact of physical activity on MI development. This study provides valuable insights that influence the development of MI in primary school children and highlights the need for further research in this area.