The influence of Chinese one-child family status on developmental coordination disorder status.

Abstract

We conducted a population-based study on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in mainland China to explore the influence of one-child status in Chinese families on DCD. A total of 4001 children selected from 160 classes in 15 public nursery schools. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children assessed motor function. The prevalence of DCD in Chinese one-child families (8.7%) was higher than that in multi-child families (5.9%). Chinese one-child family status (compared with younger children in multi-child families) were negatively related with total score (-1.793), Manual dexterity (-0.228), Aiming and catching (-1.145), Balance (-0.433) of MABC-2 and DCD (OR=2.294) when adjusted for the children's and family's characteristics, and perinatal factors (each p<0.05). As one of the studies in this Chinese context, it provides a platform for future intervention programs in one-child families in preventing children's developmental disorders.