Individual and environmental parameters in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: associations with physical activity and body mass index

Abstract

IntroductionPhysical Activity (PA) is a complex behavior, and the relevance of other factors such as BMI, SES and children’s behavior at school and home still lacks investigation for children, especially those at risk or with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The objective of this study was to examine whether socioeconomic status (SES), school's spaces for children’s movement, active play, screen time, motor skill proficiency, perceived motor competence, and engagement in the physical education lessons were associated with PA and BMI in children with typical development (TD), at risk of DCD (r-DCD), and with DCD.MethodsChildren (N = 352; 4–10-year-old) from six public schools in a major urban city, in southern of Brazil, were assessed regarding motor skill proficiency (locomotor and ball skills), perceived motor competence, and weight status. PA and engagement in the lesson were assessed using pedometers and a behavior checklist of motor experience of success. Parents recorded the daily time that children spent on screen and in active play.ResultsThe hierarchical multivariate linear regressions showed that age, sex, SES, Schools with more favorable space for children’s movement, locomotor and ball skills, and successful engagement, were associated with PA for children with TD. Age, screen time, locomotor, and successful engagement were associated with BMI. For children at r-DCD, age, sex, SES, with more favorable space for children’s movement, and locomotor were associated with PA. Age, active play and screen time were associated with BMI. For children with DCD, sex, SES, Schools with more favorable space for children’s movement, screen time, and successful engagement were associated with PA. Age, sex, active play, and screen time were associated with BMI.ConclusionDifferent factors were associated with PA and BMI for children with different levels of motor impairment (r-DCD and DCD) and children with TD.

Investigating the relationships between motor skills, cognitive status, and area deprivation index in Arizona: a pilot study

“…Despite the inherent limitations of our study, including its small sample size, it underscores the critical need to consider a wide array of factors, such as physical activity and mental health, in understanding the multifaceted relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. Physical activity, for instance, might offer a mitigating effect against the negative impacts of socioeconomic disadvantage on health, whereas mental health challenges like depression could exacerbate them ( 51 ). Further other limitations that may warrant further study are BMI, social support and family structure, financial stress, medical and lifestyle factors that also may impact deprivation indices ( 52–54 ).…”