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Journal article

Childhood Motor Function, Health Related Quality of Life and Social Functioning among Emerging Adults Born at Term or Extremely Low Birth Weight

Abstract

Poor motor coordination is associated with reduced academic performance, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and social functioning in general population samples of children. Even though childhood motor problems are often chronic, little is known about how they affect educational, health, and social domains beyond adolescence. Further, the status of these associations in individuals known to be at high risk for poor motor coordination (e.g., those born preterm) is not known. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between childhood motor coordination and socioeconomic outcomes, HRQoL, and social functioning at 22–26 years of age in a cohort of individuals born at normal birth weight (NBW, > 2500 g; N = 83) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW, < 1000 g; N = 70). Childhood motor coordination was retrospectively self-reported by participants, and measures of socioeconomic status, family functioning, social support, and HRQoL were self-reported at age 22–26. Poorer childhood motor coordination was found to be associated with reduced educational attainment at 22–26 in both birth weight groups. However, statistically significant interactions were found between childhood motor coordination and birth weight status on social support and domains of HRQoL at age 22–26, such that as motor coordination worsened, participants born at NBW received less social support and had poorer HRQoL than ELBW survivors. Childhood motor coordination appears to be more strongly linked with reduced social support and reduced HRQoL in those born at term compared to ELBW survivors. These findings highlight the importance of screening, treating and supporting all children to reduce the long-term adverse effects of poor motor coordination in early life.

Authors

Poole KL; Islam UA; Schmidt LA; Missiuna C; Saigal S; Boyle MH; Van Lieshout RJ

Journal

Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 369–383

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publication Date

June 1, 2017

DOI

10.1007/s10882-016-9530-0

ISSN

1056-263X

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