Abstract
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 5-6% of children (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). DCD is characterized by deficits in fine and gross motor skills resulting in decreased motor performance. Studies have shown that DCD is associated with other developmental disorders, the most common being attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While children with DCD have been shown to be less physically active than their typically developing peers (Rivilis et al., 2011), the literature pertaining to how ADHD affects the relationship between physical activity (PA) and motor coordination is limited. Participants (N = 494, 218 girls, Mage = 4.47±0.50 years) in the current study are part of a larger cohort study with 261 (155 boys) children classified as at risk for DCD. Overall, inattention/hyperactivity was shown to be positively associated with MVPA (min/day) among all children (r = .12, p = .009). However, the strongest associations were found in children with DCD scoring in the 6-16th percentile range (r = .20, p =.015), and were non-significant for children below the 6th percentile (r = .16, p =.14). One possible explanation might be that the children with the most severe motor impairments that are inattentive/hyperactive may lack the confidence in their ability to engage in PA and, in turn, choose non-active pursuits to cope with their hyperactivity. These findings warrant further investigation into these constructs, and other potential psychological factors (e.g., self-perception) that may be impacting the relationship between PA and ADHD across the motor spectrum.Acknowledgments: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) award (#126015)