Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jun 21;11(7):757.
doi: 10.3390/children11070757.

Gross Motor Skills Are Associated with Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Aged Children

Cristiana D'Anna  1 , Fabio Carlevaro  2 , Francesca Magno  2   3 , Roberto Vagnetti  4 , Pierpaolo Limone  1 , Daniele Magistro  4
Affiliations

Gross Motor Skills Are Associated with Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Aged Children

Cristiana D'Anna et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most prevalent disorders in children and is frequently linked with motor difficulties that can impact both daily motor tasks and overall developmental trajectories. The objective of this study was to analyse the association between gross motor skills and ADHD symptoms. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from a sample of primary school children (N = 2677; mean age = 8.58 years, SD = 1.49 years). The Gross Motor Development-3 Test (TGMD-3) was employed to assess participants' gross motor skills, whereas the ADHD Rating Scale (SDAI), completed by teachers, evaluated ADHD symptoms through two subscales: inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity. The results revealed an association between motor development and ADHD symptoms, with greater proficiency in gross motor skills correlating with lower symptoms reported on the SDAI. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the TGMD-3 was significantly associated with the risk of ADHD in matched samples of at-risk children and controls. The evaluation of gross motor development proves to be a useful tool for monitoring global development, paying attention to any critical issues, particularly in relation to the variables of inattention and hyperactivity.

Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; development; gross motor skills; impulsivity; inattention; motor competence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Multilevel model indicating the linear relation between TGMD-3 Total Score and SDAI Total Score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. McKune A.J., Pautz J., Lomjbard J. Behavioural response to exercise in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. S. Afr. J. Sports Med. 2003;15:17–21. doi: 10.17159/2078-516X/2003/v15i3a223. - DOI
    1. Gapin J., Etnier J.L. The relationship between physical activity and executive function performance in children with at-tentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 2010;32:753–763. doi: 10.1123/jsep.32.6.753. - DOI - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-5) American Psychiatric Association; Washington, DC, USA: 2013.
    1. American Psychiatric Association APA . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association APA; Washington, DC, USA: 2022. Text Revision.
    1. Varrasi S., Boccaccio F.M., Guerrera C.S., Platania G.A., Pirrone C., Castellano S. Schooling and occupational outcomes in adults with ADHD: Predictors of success and support strategies for effective learning. Educ. Sci. 2022;13:37. doi: 10.3390/educsci13010037. - DOI

LinkOut - more resources