Children Suspected for Developmental Coordination Disorder in Hong Kong and Associated Health-Related Functioning: A Survey Study

Kathlynne F. Eguia, Sum Kwing Cheung, Kevin K. H. Chung and Catherine M. Capio ()
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Kathlynne F. Eguia: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Sum Kwing Cheung: Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ting Kok, Hong Kong
Kevin K. H. Chung: Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Ting Kok, Hong Kong
Catherine M. Capio: Department of Physiotherapy, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Disabilities, 2025, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have motor difficulties that interfere with their daily functions. The extent to which DCD affects children in Hong Kong has not been established. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of children suspected of DCD (sDCD) in Hong Kong and to examine the relationship between motor performance difficulties and health-related functioning. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of parents of children aged 5 to 12 years across Hong Kong ( N = 656). The survey consisted of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) and short forms on global health, physical activity, positive affect, and cognitive function of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS ® ) parent-proxy report scales. We found that the total DCDQ score categorized 18.29% of the children as sDCD. Logistic regression revealed that household income ( OR 0.776, p < 0.001) and child age ( OR 1.012, p = 0.004) contributed to being categorized as sDCD. Children categorized as sDCD had lower global health ( p < 0.001), less positive affect ( p < 0.001), and more impaired cognitive function ( p < 0.001) than children categorized as probably not DCD (nDCD). The findings of this study contribute to clarifying the extent to which DCD might affect Hong Kong children and serve as a basis to advocate for programs that address motor, health, affective, and cognitive outcomes. Further research is recommended to estimate the prevalence of a DCD diagnosis in Hong Kong.

Keywords: developmental coordination disorder; motor coordination; physical activity; positive affect; cognitive function; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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