Validity of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire’ 07 and Its Association with Physical Activity in Young Children with Developmental Disabilities

OBJECTIVES The purposes of the current study were to examine the construct and predictive validity, and reliability of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire’ 07 (DCDQ’ 07) for young children with developmental disabilities (DD). METHODS 135 parents of young children with DD completed an online questionnaire which consisted of demographic information, the DCDQ’ 07, and a physical activity behavior questionnaire. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate motor difficulties across different types of young children with DD. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to examine construct validity and reliability of the DCDQ’ 07. Moreover, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between the DCDQ’ 07 scores and physical activity behaviors in young children with DD. RESULTS The one-way analysis of variance indicated that the DCDQ’ 07 scores were significantly different across different types of young children with DD = 6.66, p <0.001). The exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor solution, accounting for 64.34% of the variance of the DCDQ’ 07. Internal consistencies of the three factors were acceptable. One factor, control during movement, was a significant predictor for physical activity behaviors in young children with DD (β = 0.37, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The DCDQ’ 07 may be a reliable and valid measure in examining motor difficulties in young children with DD. To promote physical activity behaviors in young children with DD, teaching and reinforcing motor skills need to be encouraged.