Development of activity level in children.

Abstract

The open-field activity of 140 children three to nine years of age was observed in a room divided into four parts, each of which contained a chair and a table with the same five toys on the tables in all of the quadrants. The children participated in two 15-minute sessions, one with free-play instructions, the other with instructions to stay in one part of the room and play with a single toy. Parents of the children filled out a questionnaire version of the Werry-Weiss-Peters Activity Scale. Open-field activity decreased with age in almost perfectly monotonic fashion. Parents' activity ratings were also lower for older children. There were no significant sex differences on either the open-field measures or the parental ratings. Restrictive instructions decreased activity and toy-changing behavior in the open-field situation, but this effect was somewhat attenuated when restrictive instructions were the first ones given. A factor analysis of the ratings provided evidence for a number of independent components of activity in children.

An examination of the behavioral and neuropsychological correlates of three ADHD candidate gene polymorphisms (DRD4 7+, DBH TaqI A2, and DAT1 40 bp VNTR) in hyperactive and normal children followed to adulthood

“…It was subsequently modified to a 22-item scale by Routh, Schroeder, and O'Tuama (1974) who deleted the school items. The modified scale was employed here at study entry to select the hyperactive children based on a threshold of +2 SDs above the mean for a small sample of normal children (N=140) studied by Routh et al (1974). While the scale may appear to be redundant with the Conners Hyperactivity Index discussed above, each provides some unique information about childhood symptoms of ADHD.…”

“…111-113; Barkley, 1990, pp.660-662)-The original scale was developed to evaluate children's levels of hyperactive behavior in home and school situations (Werry & Sprague, 1970). It was subsequently modified to a 22-item scale by Routh, Schroeder, and O'Tuama (1974) who deleted the school items. The modified scale was employed here at study entry to select the hyperactive children based on a threshold of +2 SDs above the mean for a small sample of normal children (N=140) studied by Routh et al (1974).…”

Qualidades Psicométricas Da Escala De Atividade De Werry-Weiss-Peters: Estudo Preliminar Da Versão Portuguesa

“…Originalmente concebida para avaliar os comportamentos em diferentes contextos (31 itens referentes a situações em casa e na escola; Werry, 1968), a Escala WWP foi posteriormente modificada e direcionada para a avaliação de comportamentos em contexto familiar (22 itens). O estudo da Escala foi retomado por Routh (Routh, 1978;Routh et al, 1974;), que chegou a uma versão composta por 27 itens que se combinam num resultado total único, versão esta que tem sido utilizada em inúmeras pesquisas internacionais (McCann et al, 2014;McGilloway et al, 2009;Perez, Turner, Fisher, Lockwood, & Daley, 2014;Thompson et al, 2009). Essa é, igualmente, a versão que serve de base à presente pesquisa.…”

“…Assim, e apesar da elevada variabilidade interindividual presente nestas faixas etárias, é importante estarmos atentos aos sinais da PH/DA e assegurar que as crianças são avaliadas de uma forma compreensiva, de acordo com uma perspetiva desenvolvimental e multidisciplinar (Bussing, Lehninger, & Eyberg, 2006) em que o clínico deve recorrer a múltiplas fontes de informação (Daley et al, 2009) e a diferentes métodos de avaliação (entrevistas de diagnóstico, testes psicológicos, observação direta do comportamento). As escalas de avaliação preenchidas pelos pais e por outros informadores contam-se entre estes vários métodos, sendo uma das formas mais comuns de avaliação do nível de atividade da criança (Routh, Schroeder, & O'Tuama, 1974).…”

Assessment of setting in the behavioral ratings of preschoolers with and without high levels of activity

“…The Routh, Schroeder, and O'Tuama (1974) abbreviated 22-item parent rating scale, which was adapted from the Werry Weiss Peters Activity Scale (WWP; Werry, 1968), was used in this research. This version has been standardized for children 3 through 9 years and includes age-appropriate questions about types of child behavior (gross motor: up/down, changes activity; small motor: fiddles, wiggles; and verbal: talk, interrupts, disrupts) observed across several settings: mealtime, television (TV), play, sleep, or away from home settings (shopping, visiting, church/movies, traveling).…”