Is Quarter of Birth a Risk Factor for Developmental Coordinator Disorder in Preschool Children?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that preschool children have severe motor difficulties or are at risk of motor difficulties, according to quarter of birth and gender. Five hundred and eighty-eight preschool-age children were evaluated, of which 318 (54.08%) were boys and 270 (45.92%) were girls, with a mean age of 4.66 years (SD = 0.53). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was used to collect the data. The results obtained were the following: Regarding students with severe motor difficulties: 6.7% born in quarter 1 (Q1); 13.3% born in the second quarter (Q2); 20.0% born in the third quarter (Q3); and 60.0% born in the fourth quarter (Q4). The probabilities found (OR) were: Q1 vs. Q2 (OR = 3.15; p < 0.05); Q1 vs. Q3 (OR = 4.68; p < 0.005); Q1 vs. Q4 (OR = 12.40; p < 0.001); Q2 vs. Q4 (OR = 4.04; p < 0.001); and Q3 vs. Q4 (OR = 2.65; p < 0.005). The adjusted ORs, with respect to the probabilities of having severe motor difficulties, were the following: Being born in Q4 is 13.03 times more likely than being born in Q1 (p < 0.001); those born in Q3 are 4.85 times more likely than those born in Q1 (p < 0.05); and those born in Q2 4.14 times more than those born in Q1 (p < 0.05). The conclusion is that children born in Q4 are more likely to be classified as children with severe difficulties compared to children born in the other quarters of the same year.

The relative age effect on fundamental movement skills in Chinese children aged 3–5 years

“…RAEs were identified as a new factor in suicide among young people [16]. Morrow and Navarro found that RAEs were a risk factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental coordinator disorder (DCD) [17,18].…”

“…PE classes must provide all children with the acquisition of sufficient motor competence to be able to access a wide range of physical-sport activities throughout their lives [6]. Acquiring adequate motor competence during childhood is essential for a child's physical, socioemotional, and cognitive development [18]. Lack of motor competence can have lasting negative effects, such as developmental delay [18,20,21].…”

“…Acquiring adequate motor competence during childhood is essential for a child's physical, socioemotional, and cognitive development [18]. Lack of motor competence can have lasting negative effects, such as developmental delay [18,20,21]. In particular, preschoolage children are particularly sensitive; thus, this period is fundamental for the development of motor competence.…”