Abstract
Visual-motor integration (VMI) is related to children's academic performance and school readiness. VMI scores measured using the Beery-Bucktenicka Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI) can differ due to differences in cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. This study compared the VMI scores of Malaysian preschoolers with the corresponding US norms and determined the association between their VMI scores and socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 435 preschoolers (mean age: 5.95±0.47 years; age range: 5.08-6.83 years) from randomly selected public and private preschools. VMI scores were measured using Beery-VMI in the preschools' classrooms. Information on the socioeconomic characteristics of the preschoolers was obtained using a parent-report questionnaire. One sample t-test was used to compare their VMI scores with the corresponding US norms. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on the preschoolers' VMI scores. Overall, Malaysian preschoolers' VMI performance was similar to the US standardized norms (p>0.05). Children from low-income families were twice likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those from higher-income families (OR = 2.47, 95%CI 1.05, 5.86). Children enrolled at public preschools were more likely to obtain a lower than average VMI score than those who enrolled at private preschools (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Children who started preschool at the age of six were more likely to obtain lower than average VMI scores than those who started at an earlier age (OR = 4.66, 95%CI 1.97, 11.04). Low maternal education level was also associated with lower than average VMI score (OR = 2.60, 95%CI 1.12, 6.06). Malaysian preschoolers' Beery-VMI performance compared well to their US counterparts. Some socioeconomic factors were associated with reduced VMI scores. Those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have reduced VMI performance, potentially adversely affecting their school readiness, cognitive performance, and future academic achievements.
Highlights
Visual-motor integration (VMI) refers to the ability and extent to which visual perception and motor coordination are well coordinated with each other [1]
We found that girls had higher Beery-VMI scores than boys, similar to the findings of an earlier study where girls obtained higher scores in Beery-VMI’s visual perception subtest [8]
We found that preschool enrolment age was significantly associated with preschoolers’ VMI performance, where children who started preschool education at the age of six had lower VMI performance compared to those who started at the age of five and younger
Summary
Visual-motor integration (VMI) refers to the ability and extent to which visual perception and motor coordination are well coordinated with each other [1]. Hong Kong and Singaporean preschoolers performed significantly better with Beery-VMI than their age-matched children from the US [12,13,14,15]. Contributing factors for these findings include cultural, language, and curriculum differences, indicating that each population should have its local normative VMI performance values. There is a need to ensure that VMI scores for a local population to be accurately measured and compared to the published standardized norms
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