Is Quarter of Birth a Risk Factor for Developmental Coordinator Disorder in Preschool Children?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric motor development
• Developmental pediatrics
• Child psychology

Background:

• Motor difficulties in preschool children can impact academic and social development.
• Understanding risk factors for motor delays is crucial for early intervention.
• Seasonal birth patterns have been linked to various health outcomes in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between quarter of birth and the likelihood of severe motor difficulties in preschool children.
• To determine if gender influences the probability of motor impairments in early childhood.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 588 preschool-age children (318 boys, 270 girls) was assessed.
• The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) was utilized to evaluate motor skills.
• Statistical analysis, including odds ratios (OR), was performed to compare motor difficulties across birth quarters.

Main Results:

• Children born in the fourth quarter (Q4) showed the highest prevalence of severe motor difficulties (60.0%).
• Birth in Q4 was significantly associated with increased odds of severe motor difficulties compared to Q1 (OR=13.03), Q2 (OR=4.04), and Q3 (OR=2.65).
• Children born in Q3 (OR=4.85) and Q2 (OR=4.14) also had higher odds of motor difficulties compared to Q1.

Conclusions:

• Preschool children born in the fourth quarter are at a substantially higher risk for severe motor difficulties.
• The quarter of birth appears to be a significant factor associated with motor development outcomes in early childhood.
• Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms for this observed seasonal effect on motor skills.