Child and Family Predictors for Mastery Motivation in Children With Developmental Delays.

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Developmental Psychology
• Special Education

Background:

• Motivation is crucial for child development, yet predictors of task and perceived motivation remain understudied.
• Preschoolers with global developmental delays (GDD) present unique challenges in motivation assessment and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences between task and perceived motivation in the cognitive domain among preschoolers with GDD.
• To compare perceived motivation across cognitive, gross motor, and social domains.
• To identify early child and family predictors of cognitive task motivation and perceived motivation domains.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month longitudinal study design was employed.
• Participants included preschoolers diagnosed with global developmental delays (GDD).
• Data collected on child and family factors, and various motivation metrics.

Main Results:

• Preschoolers with GDD exhibited higher cognitive task motivation compared to cognitive perceived motivation.
• Perceived cognitive motivation was lower than perceived motivation in gross motor and social domains.
• Distinct child and family factors predicted cognitive task motivation and the different perceived motivation domains.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the nuances between task and perceived motivation is vital for children with GDD.
• Early identification of child and family predictors can inform targeted interventions.
• Educating caregivers on observing and supporting children's motivation is recommended to foster active engagement.