Does early communication mediate the relationship between motor ability and social function in children with cerebral
Belinda Lipscombe1, Roslyn N Boyd2, Andrea Coleman2
1School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Insights
Early communication skills are key for social development in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Improved communication abilities help bridge the gap between motor skills and social functioning, highlighting the need for early language support.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) face social functioning challenges.
- Motor and communication abilities are known determinants of social function in CP.
- The mediating role of communication between motor ability and social function in CP has not been studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if early communication ability mediates the link between early motor ability and later social development in children with CP.
- Investigated children at 24 months corrected age (ca.) for motor and communication skills, and at 60 months ca. for social development.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 71 children with CP (varying Gross Motor Function Classification System levels) were assessed.
- Utilized Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), CSBS-DP Infant-Toddler Checklist, and PEDI.
- A mediation model was analyzed using bootstrapping.
Main Results:
- Early communication skills significantly mediated the relationship between early motor abilities and later social functioning (b=0.24, p<0.001).
- The mediation model explained 49% of the variance (R²=0.49).
Conclusions:
- Early communication ability partially mediates the relationship between motor ability and social function in children with CP.
- Highlights the critical role of early communication in social development.
- Recommends early identification of communication delays and enriched language exposure for children with CP.
Background:
Children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions such as cerebral palsy (CP) are at risk of experiencing restrictions in social activities negatively impacting their subsequent social functioning. Research has identified motor and communication ability as being unique determinants of social function capabilities in children with CP, to date, no research has investigated whether communication is a mediator of the relationship between motor ability and social functioning.
Aims:
To investigate whether early communication ability at 24 months corrected age (ca.) mediates the relationship between early motor ability at 24 months ca. and later social development at 60 months ca. in a cohort of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
A cohort of 71 children (43 male) diagnosed with CP (GMFCS I=24, 33.8%, II=9, 12.7%, III=12, 16.9%, IV=10, 14.1%, V=16, 22.5%) were assessed at 24 and 60 months ca. Assessments included the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Communication and Symbolic Behaviour Scales-Developmental Profile (CSBS-DP) Infant-Toddler Checklist and the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). A mediation model was examined using bootstrapping.
Results:
Early communication skills mediated the relationship between early motor abilities and later social functioning, b=0.24 (95% CI=0.08-0.43 and the mediation model was significant, F (2, 68)=32.77, p<0.001, R(2)=0.49.
Conclusions And Implication:
Early communication ability partially mediates the relationship between early motor ability and later social function in children with CP. This demonstrates the important role of early communication in ongoing social development. Early identification of communication delay and enriched language exposure is crucial in this population.
