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Physical size, school performance, and visual-motor maturity in the Philippines
A Theodore Steegmann1, Francisco A Datar2, Ruth M Steegmann3
1Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14261.
Summary
Biological variation impacts well-being, with height correlating to school grades in Filipino children. Visual-motor skills showed lower performance but no direct link to physical measurements.
Area of Science:
- Human Biology
- Developmental Psychology
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Investigates the impact of biological variation on well-being in a rural Philippine fishing community.
- Examines a population moderately undernourished by NCHS but not Philippine standards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if biological variation (adaptive or maladaptive) affects human lives and well-being.
- To explore correlations between anthropometric measurements, academic performance, and visual-motor skills in children.
Main Methods:
- Measured anthropometry (height, weight for height) in 50 children (25 boys, 25 girls) aged 8 years.
- Assessed school grades (cognitive and social-behavioral components) and visual-motor skills using the Beery VMI.
- Calculated correlations between anthropometric data, grades, and visual-motor performance.
Main Results:
- School grades showed a significant positive correlation with percentage of median height (NCHS and Philippine standards).
- Visual-motor skills correlated less strongly but significantly with school grades.
- No significant correlation was found between visual-motor skills and anthropometric measurements.
- Visual-motor performance was notably lower compared to U.S. standards.
Conclusions:
- Height is a significant factor associated with academic and behavioral outcomes in this population.
- While visual-motor skills are lower, they do not directly correlate with anthropometric measures in this context.
- The findings suggest a complex interplay between biological factors, environment, and developmental outcomes, warranting further behavioral context analysis.
