Article
Early life events and motor development in childhood and adolescence: a longitudinal study
Acta Paediatrica
(2016)
Abstract
Few studies have reported on early life risk factors for motor development outcomes past
childhood. Antenatal, perinatal and neonatal factors affecting motor development from late
childhood to adolescence were explored. As sex differences in motor development have been
previously reported males and females were examined separately. Methods; Participants (N = 2868)
were from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study. Obstetric and neonatal data were
examined to determine factors related to motor development at 10 (n = 1622), 14 (n = 1584) and 17
(n = 1221) years. The Neuromuscular Development Index (NDI) of the McCarron Assessment of
Motor Development determined offspring motor proficiency. Linear Mixed Models were developed
to allow for changes in motor development over time. Results; Maternal preeclampsia, caesarean
section and low income were negatively related to male and female motor outcomes. Lower
percentage of optimal birth weight was related to a lower male NDI. Younger maternal age, smoking
during early pregnancy and stress during later pregnancy were related to lower female NDIs.
Conclusion; Events experienced during pregnancy were related to motor development into late
adolescence. Males and females were influenced differently by antenatal and perinatal risk factors;
this may be due to sex specific developmental pathways.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2016
DOI
10.1111/apa.13302
Citation Information
Grace, T., Bulsara, M., Robinson, M., and Hands, B. (2015). Early life events and motor development in childhood and adolescence: a longitudinal study. Acta Paediatrica, 10595), e219-e227. DOI: 10.1111/apa.13302