Psychosocial Implications of Low Motor Competence in 12-Year-Old Boys and Girls: The NW-CHILD Study
Saved in:
| Title: | Psychosocial Implications of Low Motor Competence in 12-Year-Old Boys and Girls: The NW-CHILD Study |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Anita Elizabeth Pienaar (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Motor Learning and Development. 2026 14(1). |
| Availability: | Human Kinetics, Inc. 1607 North Market Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 800-474-4457; Fax: 217-351-1549; e-mail: info@hkusa.com; Web site: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/jmld-overview.xml |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Psychomotor Skills, Sex, Performance Tests, Motor Development, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Physical Health, Mental Health, Psychological Patterns, Foreign Countries, Quality of Life, Comorbidity |
| Geographic Terms: | South Africa |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency |
| DOI: | 10.1123/jmld.2025-0044 |
| ISSN: | 2325-3193 2325-3215 |
| Abstract: | Children with an impaired ability to perform coordinated motor skills often experience problems beyond the motor domain, including secondary mental and physical health issues. However, limited research is available on whether low motor competence (LMC) increases the risk of emotional and behavioral problems and if health-related quality of life domains are differently affected by sex. A randomized and stratified by school and sex research design was employed to cross-sectionally analyze the motor competence (MC) of 12.9-year-old children (N = 581; 282 boys, 289 girls) using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition Short Form and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Analysis using Statistica for Windows (2024) confirmed significantly poorer physical health (p < 0.01, d = 0.35), psychosocial health (p < 0.01, d = 0.30), and summary health-related quality of life scores (p < 0.01, d = 0.18) in LMC children (n = 104, 17.9%) compared with typical development children (n = 471, 81%). Significant differences (p < 0.05, d > 0.2) emerged between boys and girls with LMC and typical development particularly in the physical health of girls with LMC (p < 0.001, d = 0.50), highlighting vulnerability to mental problems in LMC girls. Girls with LMC also had lower, although nonsignificant, physical health (p < 0.09, d = 0.34), psychosocial summary, and overall health-related quality of life scores (p > 0.05) than LMC boys. These findings accentuate negative influences on the quality of life of boys and girls with impaired MC, which warrants public awareness, and educational and health attention. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1508793 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Children with an impaired ability to perform coordinated motor skills often experience problems beyond the motor domain, including secondary mental and physical health issues. However, limited research is available on whether low motor competence (LMC) increases the risk of emotional and behavioral problems and if health-related quality of life domains are differently affected by sex. A randomized and stratified by school and sex research design was employed to cross-sectionally analyze the motor competence (MC) of 12.9-year-old children (N = 581; 282 boys, 289 girls) using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition Short Form and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Analysis using Statistica for Windows (2024) confirmed significantly poorer physical health (p < 0.01, d = 0.35), psychosocial health (p < 0.01, d = 0.30), and summary health-related quality of life scores (p < 0.01, d = 0.18) in LMC children (n = 104, 17.9%) compared with typical development children (n = 471, 81%). Significant differences (p < 0.05, d > 0.2) emerged between boys and girls with LMC and typical development particularly in the physical health of girls with LMC (p < 0.001, d = 0.50), highlighting vulnerability to mental problems in LMC girls. Girls with LMC also had lower, although nonsignificant, physical health (p < 0.09, d = 0.34), psychosocial summary, and overall health-related quality of life scores (p > 0.05) than LMC boys. These findings accentuate negative influences on the quality of life of boys and girls with impaired MC, which warrants public awareness, and educational and health attention. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2325-3193 2325-3215 |
| DOI: | 10.1123/jmld.2025-0044 |
