title: Peer problems mediate the relationship between developmental coordination disorder and behavioral problems in school-aged children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to gain insights into the relationship between developmental coordination disorder, peer problems, and behavioral problems in school-aged children where both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems were considered. We assumed that the relationship between developmental coordination disorder and internalizing/externalizing problems in school-aged children is mediated by peer problems and tested the hypothesis that a greater degree of motor impairment causes a greater degree of peer problems and thus a greater degree of internalizing or externalizing problems. Seventy boys and girls aged between 5 and 11 years were examined using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children 2 and the Intelligence and Developmental Scales. The results of path analysis showed that the relationship between developmental coordination disorder and internalizing/externalizing problems in school-aged children is mediated at least in part by peer problems. However, the cross-sectional design of the study does not provide conclusive evidence for a cause-effect relationship and only allows for the conservative prognosis that a greater degree of motor impairment may cause a greater degree of peer problems and thus a greater degree of internalizing/externalizing problems. Nevertheless, the results of this study emphasize the importance of being well-integrated in their peer group especially for children with developmental coordination disorder.
authors: University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. matthias.wagner@uni-konstanz.de
authors: Matthias Oliver
authors: MO
authors: Wagner
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Bös
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Jascenoka
authors: Darko
authors: D
authors: Jekauc
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Petermann
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010379:Peer Group; D011379:Prognosis; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires