Association between motor skills and executive function of children with autism spectrum disorder in Taiwan and the United States
This study reveals important associations between motor skills and executive functions in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that are consistent across Eastern and Western cultures.
The findings suggest that early assessment and intervention focused on motor skill development may have cascading benefits for cognitive development in children with ASD.
This has significant real-world applications for early screening and the design of targeted interventions to support the developmental needs of young children on the autism spectrum.
College of Health researcher(s)
College unit(s)
Highlights
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The study highlights the association between motor skills and executive function (EF) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Taiwan and the United States.
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The findings suggest that parent ratings of fine motor skills and gross motor skills are significantly related to EF ratings in working memory and inhibition among 4-6 year old children with ASD from both countries.
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These results emphasize the importance of early intervention programs focused on improving motor skills and EF development in young children with ASD.
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The study provides insights into the unique characteristics and cultural contexts of children with ASD from Taiwan and the United States, which can inform the development of tailored interventions.
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The research contributes to the understanding of the relationships between motor skills and EF development in children with ASD, paving the way for future initiatives and programs to support their success in school and life.
Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parent ratings of motor skills and executive function (EF) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States and Taiwan.
Materials and method
One hundred and seventy-two parents/legal guardians of children (4–6 years and 11 months old) with ASD were recruited from two countries, Taiwan (n = 100) and the United States (n = 72). The parents or guardians of the child with ASD completed a questionnaire including demographic information, child’s motor skills (using Children Activity Scale – Parents, ChAS-P), and child’s EF (using Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory, CHEXI). A series of hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to determine whether ChAS-P (total motor score, fine motor skills, and gross motor skill) was associated with CHEXI (total EF score, working memory, and inhibition), after controlling for covariates (i.e., age, gender, race, body mass index, whether children received physical activity or cognitive training, parental education level).
Results
Total motor skills, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills were significantly associated with EF in both working memory and inhibition as rated by parents in both countries (β = 0.21–0.57, p < 0.01), with the exception of a non-significant association between parent-rated total motor skills, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills, and inhibition among Taiwanese children with ASD. In addition, the associations between parent ratings of motor skills (i.e., fine motor and gross motor skills) and EF (i.e., working memory and inhibition) were similar between the two countries.
Conclusion
Positive associations with specific aspects of parent ratings of fine motor and gross motor skills and working memory and inhibition were found in children with ASD from both countries. These findings have implications for future interventions and programs focused on improving early motor skills and EF development for young children with ASD from Taiwan and the United States