Factors that Influence the Acquisition of Motor Skills in Infants

Abstract

The current thesis reports on the influence of sex and socioeconomic factors on infant development at two months of age. A total of 120 families participated in the study. Data were analyzed for 85 infants whose caregivers had completed the 2-month-old Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3 (ASQ-3). Independent samples t-tests revealed no significant differences between males and females for the ASQ-3 total scores or the domains it assesses: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social.Significant correlations were found between income and problem-solving scores (r = -0.225), perceived SES (socioeconomic status) and fine motor scores (r= -0.336), and perceived SES and total ASQ scores (r= -0.259). Surprisingly, the infants whose families had higher incomes or higher perceived socio-economic status scored lower on specific domains of the ASQ-3. These findings are discussed relative to contemporary literature on the range of factors known to influence infant motor and psychological development.