Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Performance of Activities of Daily Living in Typically Developing Children in Korea: Normative Value of K-MBI
Mi-Jeong Yoon1, Sungwoo Paek1, Jongbin Lee2
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
This study establishes normative values for the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) in children, providing a benchmark for assessing daily living activities. Results show rapid development in mobility and self-care skills during early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) is a widely used tool for assessing activities of daily living (ADL).
- Establishing normative data is crucial for interpreting scores in specific populations, such as typically developing children.
- The Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) requires age-specific normative values for pediatric use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the normative values of the K-MBI for typically developing children in Korea.
- To evaluate the suitability of the K-MBI for assessing ADL in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed online to rehabilitation physicians and occupational therapists.
- Participants' children completed the K-MBI, assessing performance in activities of daily living.
- Sociodemographic data and K-MBI criteria were collected; age-specific scores were estimated using nonlinear least squares.
Main Results:
- Data from 206 children were analyzed.
- K-MBI total scores increased rapidly in the first 8 years, with 99% reaching ≥90 by age 8.
- Mobility scores improved swiftly, reaching >90% by age 3 and near 100% by age 7; self-care scores advanced more gradually, reaching ~100% by age 10.
Conclusions:
- Age-specific normative K-MBI values for Korean children were established for clinical reference.
- The K-MBI reflects overall ADL development but may lack sensitivity for subtle developmental changes.
- Further development of pediatric-specific assessment tools is recommended.
Objective:
To determine the normative values of the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) score for typically developing children in Korea and assess its suitability for use in children.
Methods:
Rehabilitation physicians and occupational therapists with children were invited through an online platform to participate in a survey assessing their children's performance of activity of daily living (ADL) using the K-MBI. The questionnaire encompassed queries on sociodemographic information of children and the assessment criteria outlined in the K-MBI. The standardized K-MBI scores by age were estimated using the nonlinear least squares method.
Results:
The analysis incorporated responses from a total of 206 individuals. K-MBI total scores showed a rapid increase over the first 8 years of life, with 99% of children achieving a score of 90 or higher by age 8. Mobility scores exhibited a swift increase during early childhood, surpassing 90% of the maximum score at 3 years of age and nearing 100% at 7 years of age. In contrast, self-care scores demonstrated a more gradual advancement, achieving approximately 100% of the maximum score by the age of 10 years.
Conclusion:
Age-specific normative values for K-MBI scores of typically developing children were established, which can be used as a reference in clinical care. While the K-MBI captured the overall trajectory of children's ADL development, it did not discern subtle differences across various developmental stages. There is a need for the development of more refined assessment tools tailored specifically to children.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Measures of Intelligence
Validity refers to how well a test measures what it claims to measure. An intelligence test should accurately assess intelligence rather than another characteristic, like anxiety. Criterion validity is one way to evaluate this; it...
01:23Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
01:27Introduction to Developmental Psychology
01:29Three Developmental Domains
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...