Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study
Numerous studies have examined the role of socio-economic status on physical activity, obesity, and cognitive performance in youth or older adults, but few studies have examined the role of neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) on motor or cognitive performance in kindergarten children. This stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/8/1332 |
| _version_ | 1797585142686941184 |
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| author | Nadja Schott Andi Mündörfer Benjamin Holfelder |
| author_facet | Nadja Schott Andi Mündörfer Benjamin Holfelder |
| author_sort | Nadja Schott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous studies have examined the role of socio-economic status on physical activity, obesity, and cognitive performance in youth or older adults, but few studies have examined the role of neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) on motor or cognitive performance in kindergarten children. This study aimed to examine whether lower NSES (measured by the social data atlas) was associated with lower motor and inhibitory control performance in kindergarten children. One hundred twenty-nine preschoolers were recruited from eight kindergartens in low and high NSES areas in Stuttgart, one of Germany’s largest metropolitan areas. Motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, MABC-2; Manual Dexterity, Aiming and Catching, and Balance) and inhibitory control (Flanker Task, Go/NoGo Task) were assessed in a sample of 3- to 6-year-old children within a cross-sectional study. Children from a low NSES background showed the expected difficulties in inhibitory control and motor performance, as indicated by poorer performance than children from a high NSES background. Sex-specific analysis revealed girls from low NSES areas to have the lowest fine motor control; children with low NSES reach a Developmental Coordination Disorder at-risk status of 13% (boys and girls), in contrast to children with high SES (boys 9.1%, girls 0.0%). Motor performance and inhibitory control correlated positively with regard to the group from a low NSES background. Researchers and practitioners are advised to develop a more nuanced picture of motor and academic achievement in heterogeneous neighborhoods when designing early intervention programs, particularly with regard to sex differences, with the most significant disadvantage to girls with lower NSES. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:02:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d68ca6dd49784555ae4e744dd0bd1525 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:02:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-d68ca6dd49784555ae4e744dd0bd15252023-11-19T00:39:54ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672023-08-01108133210.3390/children10081332Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit StudyNadja Schott0Andi Mündörfer1Benjamin Holfelder2Department of Psychology and Human Movement Sciences, Institute for Sport and Movement Science, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyAmt für Sport und Bewegung, Bewegungsförderung und Sportentwicklung, 70161 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Psychology and Human Movement Sciences, Institute for Sport and Movement Science, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, GermanyNumerous studies have examined the role of socio-economic status on physical activity, obesity, and cognitive performance in youth or older adults, but few studies have examined the role of neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) on motor or cognitive performance in kindergarten children. This study aimed to examine whether lower NSES (measured by the social data atlas) was associated with lower motor and inhibitory control performance in kindergarten children. One hundred twenty-nine preschoolers were recruited from eight kindergartens in low and high NSES areas in Stuttgart, one of Germany’s largest metropolitan areas. Motor functioning (Movement Assessment Battery for Children, MABC-2; Manual Dexterity, Aiming and Catching, and Balance) and inhibitory control (Flanker Task, Go/NoGo Task) were assessed in a sample of 3- to 6-year-old children within a cross-sectional study. Children from a low NSES background showed the expected difficulties in inhibitory control and motor performance, as indicated by poorer performance than children from a high NSES background. Sex-specific analysis revealed girls from low NSES areas to have the lowest fine motor control; children with low NSES reach a Developmental Coordination Disorder at-risk status of 13% (boys and girls), in contrast to children with high SES (boys 9.1%, girls 0.0%). Motor performance and inhibitory control correlated positively with regard to the group from a low NSES background. Researchers and practitioners are advised to develop a more nuanced picture of motor and academic achievement in heterogeneous neighborhoods when designing early intervention programs, particularly with regard to sex differences, with the most significant disadvantage to girls with lower NSES.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/8/1332probable Developmental Coordination Disorderphysical activitymotor skillsexecutive functionSESkindergarten |
| spellingShingle | Nadja Schott Andi Mündörfer Benjamin Holfelder Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study Children probable Developmental Coordination Disorder physical activity motor skills executive function SES kindergarten |
| title | Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study |
| title_full | Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study |
| title_fullStr | Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study |
| title_short | Neighborhood Socio-Economic Status Influences Motor Performance and Inhibitory Control in Kindergarten Children—Findings from the Cross-Sectional Kitafit Study |
| title_sort | neighborhood socio economic status influences motor performance and inhibitory control in kindergarten children findings from the cross sectional kitafit study |
| topic | probable Developmental Coordination Disorder physical activity motor skills executive function SES kindergarten |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/8/1332 |
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