Behavioral and emotional symptoms in children with poor motor skills: according to parental emic perception

Abstract

Poor motor skills may be associated with the incidence of symptoms with mental health, especially with regard to social, behavioral, and emotional outcomes. The aim of the current study was to analyze the association of emotional and behavioral symptoms with motor skills in students aged 7 to 10 years. For this, 339 children (187 girls and 152 boys) were evaluated. The variables were measured using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd ed. (MABC-2) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results indicated that children with poor motor skills were more likely to present abnormal development in terms of emotional and behavioral symptoms when compared to children with adequate motor proficiency. Thus, empirical data such as these can assist in raising public and professional awareness, considering the social and psychological consequences of poor motor skills, in addition to the individual costs arising from mental health problems.