The prenatal, postnatal, neonatal, and family environmental risk factors for Developmental Coordination Disorder: A study with a national representative sample

Abstract

Knowledge of obstetric and environmental influences on DevelopmentalCoordination Disorder (DCD) helps provide increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying the disorder. However, the literature to date has not adequately examined the obstetric and environmental risk factors for DCD in a population-based sample. The current study was therefore conducted to explore the prenatal, perinatal, neonatal, and family environmental risk factors for DCD. A total of 2185 children aged 3-10 years from a national representative sample in China were included; the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 was used to assess motor function, and a questionnaire was completed by parents. DCD was identified in 156 children according to the DSM-5 criteria. Multilevel logistic regression was used, and comparisons were made between the DCD and non-DCD group. The results confirmed that male sex, BMI score, preterm birth, and some prenatal conditions are significant risk factors for DCD. Parents' education level and one-child status as two significant environmental risk factors for DCD appear largely independent of other risk factors in the Chinese population. This study provides an opportunity to explore the etiology of DCD and suggest potential assessment, monitoring and intervention programs for DCD that could be examined in the future.

Motor Ability and Mental Health of Young Children: A Longitudinal Study

“…Similarly to earlier studies (Kadesjo and Gillberg, 1999;Du et al, 2020), this study also revealed that boys tend to have a risk of motor skill impairment. Du et al (2020) reported that boys have a much higher prevalence of DCD than girls based on a nationally representative sample.…”

“…Similarly to earlier studies (Kadesjo and Gillberg, 1999;Du et al, 2020), this study also revealed that boys tend to have a risk of motor skill impairment. Du et al (2020) reported that boys have a much higher prevalence of DCD than girls based on a nationally representative sample. They also acknowledged that this phenomenon is not attributable to single-factor contributions such as personal, environmental, and genetic factors.…”

“…Usually, DCD has been diagnosed after a child has become 6 years old (Blank et al, 2012). Epidemiological studies have revealed that children quite commonly have DCD and also that this disorder is much more common among boys than among girls (Kadesjo and Gillberg, 1999;Du et al, 2020). Many reports have described studies showing DCD comorbidity with other developmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Hulme and Snowing, 2009;Hirata et al, 2015).…”

Association of Gestational Age at Birth With Subsequent Suspected Developmental Coordination Disorder in Early Childhood in China

“… 5 Preterm infants are at a significantly higher risk of suboptimal brain development, 8 with the risk of DCD increasing with younger gestational age. 9 , 10 Children born very preterm (<32 weeks) have been found to have a higher risk of developing DCD. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 Mild and moderate motor impairments occur in almost half of all preterm children (<37 weeks).…”

Discrepancies between Parent and Teacher Reports of Motor Competence in 5–10-Year-Old Children with and without Suspected Developmental Coordination Disorder

“…The Test component (Age Band 1, AB1 and Age Band 2, AB2) of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition-Chinese [8,17,18] was used as an objective measurement of children's motor performance. There are three motor domains involving eight tasks: 3 tasks measuring Manual Dexterity (posting coins or placing pegs; threading beads or lace; drawing); 2 tasks measuring ball skills (throwing/aiming and catching); and 3 tasks measuring balance (one-leg floor/board balance; walking along a line; jumping or hopping) (see Table 2).…”