Self-perceptions in children with probable developmental coordination disorder with and without overweight

Johannes J Noordstar1, M J M Volman2

  • 1Bachelor Program Cesar Kinetics Therapy, University of Applied Sciences, Department of Child, Family & Education Studies, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Child, Family & Education Studies, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

Insights

Children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD) and overweight experience lower social acceptance. This highlights the need for targeted interventions for children with pDCD and overweight to improve their well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Motor Skill Development

Background:

  • Children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD) face motor challenges impacting self-perception and increasing overweight risk.
  • The specific effect of overweight on self-perception in children with pDCD requires further investigation.
  • Understanding this impact is crucial for effective diagnostics and interventions promoting physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare self-perceptions among children with pDCD and overweight (pDCD-O), children with pDCD without overweight (pDCD-NO), and typically developing (TD) children.
  • To identify specific areas of self-perception affected by the comorbidity of pDCD and overweight.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 366 children aged 7–13 years.
  • Categorization into three groups: pDCD-O (n=13), pDCD-NO (n=51), and TD (n=302).
  • Assessment of self-perceptions using the Self-Perception Profile for Children.

Main Results:

  • Children with pDCD-O reported lower social acceptance compared to pDCD-NO and TD children.
  • Children with pDCD-NO showed lower perceived athletic competence than TD children, but not compared to pDCD-O.
  • No significant differences were observed in perceived physical appearance or global self-esteem across groups.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight exacerbates negative self-perceptions, specifically impacting social acceptance in children with pDCD.
  • Findings underscore the importance of addressing overweight in intervention strategies for children with pDCD.
  • Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms linking pDCD, overweight, and social acceptance.
Abstract

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