A study on the influence of occupation on development of motor activities in children

Abstract

The study was aimed to assess the role of nutritional status and socio-economic status, body composition and occupation on motor development. The height, weight and skinfold thickness of bicep, tricep, suprailiac, subscapula and thigh of 144 boys aged 10-14 years were measured. Nutritional and socio-economic statuses were also measured. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - Second Edition - Short Form was used to assess children's motor ability. Mean values of fine motor development tests of schoolboys were significantly higher than those of hotel boys and bookbinders. Schoolboys and bookbinders showed significantly higher mean values of gross motor development than those of hotel boys. Occupation itself is strongly associated with fine motor development, while it is identified as a partial determinant for gross motor development. Nutritional status and socio-economic status of surveyed boys appear to be significant predictors for their fine and gross motor development. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.