Social Skills in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) (Social_DCD)

Social Skills in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): a Cross-sectional Study

In this study we will examine the social-communicative skills of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) by using online parental questionnaires in children aged 5 to 15y.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Developmental Coordination Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Online parental questionnaires

Detailed Description

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder described in the DSM-V characterized by motor coordination problems which significantly interfere with daily living activities and participation. The problems cannot be explained by another disorder and are already present in early life.

Although DCD is a 'motor' disorder, other domains may equally be affected. Children with DCD show lower health-related quality of life, more socio-emotional problems, and experience more academic difficulties. It has been proposed that social skills may mediate the emergence of socio-emotional problems at a later age. Previous research has suggested that socials skills of children with DCD may be altered. However, the process remains unclear. One possible hypothesis is that early motor coordination problems leads to avoiding or inhibits age-appropriate physical and social activities, which may reduce the opportunities to develop adequate socials skills and/or may impact negatively on a child's developing self-esteem and create a sense of isolation and exclusion.

Indeed, it has been reported that these children spend more time playing alone and are often onlookers instead of actively engaging in play. In general they exhibit a lower participation rate which may contribute to the reported poorer peer relations, less (deep) friendships, and a tendency for more bullying and loneliness. They also feel less competent in peer and social relations. Poorer social interaction skills and more social communication problems have been recognized in these children even interfering in non-verbal skills such as poorer recognizing of facial expressions and emotions and a reduced tendency to follow gaze which may be similar to children with ASD.

It can be debated if these social problems are comorbid or rather a secondary consequence.

With this study the investigators aim to map social responsiveness problems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and clarify if and which domains are most affected. The investigators defined the following research question: "Do children with Developmental Coordination Disorder experience social responsiveness problems compared to typically developing children? If so, which domains are most affected?".

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 175

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
    • Ghent University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 15 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

All children diagnosed with DCD in Belgium and The Netherlands between 5 and 15y.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Confirmed diagnosis of DCD
• Comorbidities are allowed (f.e. ASD, ADHD, ADD,…)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any other neurodevelopmental disorder which might affect motor development (f.e. CP).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder; INCLUSION: Confirmed diagnosis of DCD; Comorbidities are allowed (f.e. ASD, ADHD, ADD,…) EXCLUSION: o Any other neurodevelopmental disorder which might affect motor development (f.e. CP).

Other: Online parental questionnaires; The SRS-2 is a parental 65-item questionnaire to detect difficulties in social responsiveness in children with autism spectrum disorder. Four different forms are available: preschoolers (2.5-4.5 years), school-aged children (4-18 years), adults (≥ 19 years) and adults self-report. In this study, only the form for school-aged children will be used. The DCDQ'07 is a parental 15-item questionnaire to detect the risk of DCD in children between 5 and 15 years of age. Parents are asked to compare their child's motor performance to his/her peers using a 5-point Likert scale. The total sum score is compared to age-specific cut-off scores to determine the risk of DCD. Belgian norms are available since 2007.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Social Responsiveness Questionnaire	Outcomes are reported in a total score and five subscales (social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation and restricted interests and repetitive behavior).	through study completion, an average of 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Ghent
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dominique Van de Velde, University Ghent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 28, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 18, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 18, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 8, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Children; Social communication
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Motor Skills Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: b6702021000688

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No