Correlations between Physical Activity Participation and Anthropometric Features with Gross and Fine Motor Skills in School Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background: Finding the factors that may affect performance of fine and gross motor skills in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is of great importance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the correlations between physical activity (PA) participation and anthropometric features with gross and fine motor skills in school children with ADHD.Methods: This was a descriptive-correlational study. The study participants were 320 students with ADHD (including 120 girls; mean age of 7.86±0.89 years) from Tehran, Iran, in 2023. To assess PA, anthropometric features and motor proficiency, the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) scale (scores range from 0 to 7), standard tools such as a meter and scale, and the short form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (scores from 0-53, and 0-51 for gross and fine skills, respectively) were used. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and Pearson correlation test.Results: The participants had a relatively low level of PA (mean=2.23±1.07). Moreover, boys exhibited significantly higher proficiency in gross motor skills compared with girls (t=6.282, P<0.001), while girls demonstrated significantly higher proficiency in fine motor skills (P<0.001). Also, PA was directly and significantly associated with both gross (r=0.593, P<0.001) and fine motor skills (r=0.478, P<0.001). Moreover, body mass index showed an inverse and significant correlation with gross motor skill (r=-0.681, P<0.001).Conclusions: These findings emphasized the importance of promoting more PA and height-to-weight matching processes for optimal motor growth in children with ADHD. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate programs aimed at enhancing motor skills in children during physical education lessons.

Keywords

• exercise
• motor proficiency
• child
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• anthropometry