Neuromotor Status and Behavior Problems in School Children

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Prevalence of behavior problems in school children ranging from 8% to 35%. The causes of behavioral problems are often attributed to socio-cultural factors and interpersonal relationships and not to biological factors like neuromotor condition. Neuromotor condition often stay undetected in population of Serbian school children, also relationship between neuromotor condition and behavior problems are not studied. The aim of the research is to verify whether atypical neuromotor condition is important for occurrence of behavior problems. Participants included 256 elementary students from second-, third-, and fourth-grade classrooms. Method: Using the Developmental Screening Test (DST), the children's neuromotor condition was assessed. Behavioral problems were detected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for teachers. Results: Statistical analysis has shown that behavior problems were more common in participants from the group of atypical neuromotor condition (12 participants or 28.57%) in contrast to the group of those with typical neuromotor condition (24 participants or 11.22%). The degree of behavior problems was higher in those children whose degree of neuromotor problems was higher. There was a statistically significant difference at the p lt 0.05 degree in SDQ scores for the groups: F (2.253) = 8.414, p=0.001. Conclusion: We can conclude that atypical neuromotor condition is important for occurrence and grade of behavior problems in children.