title: Gross motor ability of native Greek, Roma, and Roma immigrant school-age children in Greece.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare gross motor ability of children aged 7 to 10 years, all from Roma minority families (Romas, Roma immigrants) and families of indigenous Greeks. The sample consisted of 180 hildren (60 natives, 60 Romas, 60 Roma immigrants) studying in Greek public primary schools. The Test of Gross Motor Development scores showed that the group of indigenous Greek children had significantly higher performance in terms of locomotion skills, handling skills, and general motor ability compared to the groups of Roma and Roma immigrant children. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two other groups. These findings might be attributed to less participation of minority children in organized physical activities in and outside school, as well as to the reduced parental encouragement for attending related activities.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Pediatrics and Special Education, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. tsimaras@phed.auth.gr
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tsimaras
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arzoglou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fotiadou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kokaridas
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotzamanidou
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Angelopoulou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bassa
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D006178:Romani People