Socioeconomic and Familial Factors Associated with Gross Motor Skills among US Children Aged 3-5 Years: The 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey.

Soyang Kwon,Meghan O’Neill

doi:10.3390/ijerph17124491

Abstract

The first aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of below average gross motor skills in a representative sample of US children aged 3 to 5 years. The second aim was to identify socioeconomic and familial characteristics that are associated with below average gross motor skills. Secondary analysis was conducted using the datasets from the 2012 National Health and Examination Survey National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS). The NNYFS assessed gross motor skills among 329 children aged 3–5 years, using the Test of Gross Motor Development-Second Edition (TGMD-2). Socioeconomic and familial characteristics of interest, such as family income and family structure, were asked in an in-person interview. This study estimated that one in three US children age 3 to 5 years old (33.9%) scored below average for gross motor quotient. In the gross motor subsets, one in four (24.4%) scored below average for locomotion and two in five (39.9%) scored below average for object control. Children living below the poverty threshold were more likely to have a higher gross motor quotient (odds ratio, OR = 2.76; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.09–7.00). Girls were more likely to have a higher locomotor score (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.10–4.25). Those living with other child(ren) aged ≤5 years were more likely to have a higher locomotor score (OR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.01–5.54), while those living with child(ren) aged 6–17 years were more likely to have a higher object control score (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.24–2.69). This study revealed risk factors associated with poor gross motor development, furthering our understanding of gross motor development in early childhood.

Highlights

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable major body movements, such as walking, maintaining balance, coordination, jumping, and reaching [1]
Those living with other child(ren) aged ≤5 years were more likely to have a higher locomotor score (OR = 2.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–5.54), while those living with child(ren) aged 6–17 years were more likely to have a higher object control score (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.24–2.69)
Living with sibling(s) or other child(ren) aged ≤5 years was associated with better locomotor skills, while living with sibling(s) or other child(ren) aged 6–17 years old was associated with better object control skills

Summary

Introduction

Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable major body movements, such as walking, maintaining balance, coordination, jumping, and reaching [1]. As a subset of gross motor skills, locomotor skills in children include those that require fluid movements of the body as the child moves horizontally or vertically from one place to another, such as walking, running, and jumping. Object control skills are those that demonstrate efficient throwing, striking, and catching movements. Childhood is a critical period to acquire movement proficiency as children rapidly develop a range of gross motor skills [2]. By age 3, most children can go up and down stairs by alternating their feet, jump in place, and throw overhand. By age 4, most children can catch a bounced ball, jump with a running start, and pedal a tricycle. By age 5, most children can gallop leading with one foot, roll like a log, and propel themselves on a swing. Motor skill competence has been shown to be associated with multiple aspects of health, such as physical activity, cardiovascular fitness, and healthy weight status [3], as well as with language development [4] and academic performance [5]

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