Swimming Competence of Preschoolers: A Descriptive Epidemiological Comparison Across the United States, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong

Despite the well-documented role of swimming competence in preventing childhood drowning, little is known about how preschoolers’ swimming competence differs across cultural contexts. This study aimed to examine cross-regional variations in swimming competence and related behavioral and environmental factors among preschoolers. Parent–child dyads (N = 2059) from the United States (n = 500), Australia (n = 500), Singapore (n = 507), and Hong Kong (n = 552), with children aged 2–6 years (M_age = 4.23 [1.10] y), completed the Swimming Competence Questionnaire. Preschoolers had an average maximum swimming distance (max-dis) of 17.80 (61.12) m, and a swimming competence index (SCI) of 15.50 (19.56) out of 100. Preschoolers from Australia (M_max-dis = 13.46 [12.24] m; M_SCI = 19.59 [20.46]) and the United States (M_max-dis = 13.91 [11.98] m; M_SCI = 16.35 [18.77]) had significantly better swimming competence than those from Singapore (M_max-dis = 26.46 [50.19] m; M_SCI = 14.77 [18.44]) and Hong Kong (M_max-dis = 18.96 [21.05] m; M_SCI = 12.80 [20.35]). Compared with those from other regions, preschoolers from Australia had the highest swimming frequency and greatest accessibility to swimming facilities, and they were more likely to receive professional swimming instruction. Findings underscore the importance of providing children with opportunities to engage in swimming to improve swimming competence.