Research in Sports Management and Movement Behavior

The Effect Of Perceptual Motor Skill Practice On Theory Of Mind And Stroop Performance In Children

Authors

Hasan Alikhani 1
Samira Naziri Nilash 2
Asiye Mirza Aghajani 2
Narjes Sayari 3

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

2 Master of Sports Physiology ,Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, La.C., Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

3 PhD student in sports psychology , Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University,

Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of perceptual–motor training programs on Stroop performance and the enhancement of theory of mind among 8–12-year-old girls in Rasht city. This study aimed to investigate the effect of perceptual–motor training programs on Stroop performance and the enhancement of theory of mind among 8–12-year-old girls in Rasht city.

methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. Participants were 24 children (mean age = 10.5 ± 1.2 years) selected through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to equal experimental and control groups (n = 12 each). The intervention program lasted eight weeks, comprising 16 sessions of 45 minutes each, and included exercises targeting balance, spatial awareness, temporal awareness, body awareness, and orientation. Stroop performance was assessed using the computerized Stroop test, while theory of mind was evaluated using the 38-item Steerneman Scale. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests in SPSS version 23, with the significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: The results showed that the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group in emotion recognition and pretence (p = 0.023), understanding of false belief (p = 0.011), comprehension of humor and second-order false belief (p = 0.048), and Stroop reaction time (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: According to the findings, perceptual–motor training can effectively improve Stroop task performance and theory of mind in children.

Keywords

Motor Skills
Selective attention
Stroop performance
theory of mind
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Research in Sports Management and Movement Behavior
Volume 15, Issue 30 - Serial Number 46
December 2025
Pages 284-301