Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey

Abstract Background Motor disturbance, as a related symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has not received the attention it deserves. We aimed to investigate the different degrees of motor developmental delay and influencing factors in Chinese preschool children with ASD, in order to enhance p...

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Main Authors: Dan Long, Ting Yang, Jie Chen, Jie Zhang, Ying Dai, Li Chen, Feiyong Jia, Lijie Wu, Yan Hao, Ling Li, Xiaoyan Ke, Mingji Yi, Qi Hong, Jinjin Chen, Shuanfeng Fang, Yichao Wang, Qi Wang, Chunhua Jin, Tingyu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00858-9
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author Dan Long
Ting Yang
Jie Chen
Jie Zhang
Ying Dai
Li Chen
Feiyong Jia
Lijie Wu
Yan Hao
Ling Li
Xiaoyan Ke
Mingji Yi
Qi Hong
Jinjin Chen
Shuanfeng Fang
Yichao Wang
Qi Wang
Chunhua Jin
Tingyu Li
author_facet Dan Long
Ting Yang
Jie Chen
Jie Zhang
Ying Dai
Li Chen
Feiyong Jia
Lijie Wu
Yan Hao
Ling Li
Xiaoyan Ke
Mingji Yi
Qi Hong
Jinjin Chen
Shuanfeng Fang
Yichao Wang
Qi Wang
Chunhua Jin
Tingyu Li
author_sort Dan Long
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Motor disturbance, as a related symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has not received the attention it deserves. We aimed to investigate the different degrees of motor developmental delay and influencing factors in Chinese preschool children with ASD, in order to enhance people’s awareness of motor developmental delay in ASD children. Methods We recruited 1,256 ASD children aged 2–6 years from the China Multi-Center Preschool Autism Project (CMPAP). We investigated the overall status of neurodevelopment in preschool children with ASD through the Revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS-R2016) and the Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS). The multivariate ordered logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different degrees of motor developmental delay and demographic, core symptoms of ASD, and maternal risk factors, which were evaluated using the questionnaires, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2). Results The proportions of delayed development in various neurodevelopmental domains was significantly imbalanced in preschool children with ASD. The proportions of gross and fine motor developmental delay were as high as 39.6% and 68.4% respectively. ASD children in different age subgroups all exhibited gross and fine motor developmental delay. The CARS and SRS-2 total scores of ASD children with mild, moderate-severe gross or fine motor developmental delay were significantly higher than those with normal motor skills development (P < 0.05). ASD children aged ≥ 5 years, or higher CARS and SRS-2 total scores, or gestational age in the 28–36+ 6 weeks were more likely to suffer from gross motor developmental delay (OR values were 5.504, 1.083, 1.846 respectively) and fine motor developmental delay (OR values were 2.216, 1.074, 1.011, 1.661 respectively). Conclusion Gross and fine motor developmental delay were difficulties that most preschool children with ASD may face, and ASD children with motor developmental delay had greater deficits in social skills. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the gross and fine motor development progress of children with ASD for facilitating early identification and individualized intervention.
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spelling doaj-art-71a24d25e8f6484ca04fff246d3a5a8f2025-08-20T03:05:52ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002025-03-0119111010.1186/s13034-025-00858-9Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center surveyDan Long0Ting Yang1Jie Chen2Jie Zhang3Ying Dai4Li Chen5Feiyong Jia6Lijie Wu7Yan Hao8Ling Li9Xiaoyan Ke10Mingji Yi11Qi Hong12Jinjin Chen13Shuanfeng Fang14Yichao Wang15Qi Wang16Chunhua Jin17Tingyu Li18Children Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and DisordersChildren Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and DisordersChildren Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and DisordersChildren Health Care Center, Xi’an Children’s HospitalChildren Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and DisordersChildren Nutrition Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and DisordersDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin UniversityResearch Center for Child Development and Behavior, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Tongi Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Children Rehabilitation, Hainan Women and Children’s Medical CenterThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Child Health Care, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityMaternal and Child Health Hospital of BaoanDepartment of Child Health Care, Shanghai Children’s HospitalDepartment of Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital Affiliated of Zhengzhou UniversityNational Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Research and Prevention, Hunan Maternal and Child Health HospitalDeyang Maternal and Child Health HospitalDepartment of Children Health Care, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of PediatricsChildren’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityAbstract Background Motor disturbance, as a related symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), has not received the attention it deserves. We aimed to investigate the different degrees of motor developmental delay and influencing factors in Chinese preschool children with ASD, in order to enhance people’s awareness of motor developmental delay in ASD children. Methods We recruited 1,256 ASD children aged 2–6 years from the China Multi-Center Preschool Autism Project (CMPAP). We investigated the overall status of neurodevelopment in preschool children with ASD through the Revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS-R2016) and the Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS). The multivariate ordered logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different degrees of motor developmental delay and demographic, core symptoms of ASD, and maternal risk factors, which were evaluated using the questionnaires, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition (SRS-2). Results The proportions of delayed development in various neurodevelopmental domains was significantly imbalanced in preschool children with ASD. The proportions of gross and fine motor developmental delay were as high as 39.6% and 68.4% respectively. ASD children in different age subgroups all exhibited gross and fine motor developmental delay. The CARS and SRS-2 total scores of ASD children with mild, moderate-severe gross or fine motor developmental delay were significantly higher than those with normal motor skills development (P < 0.05). ASD children aged ≥ 5 years, or higher CARS and SRS-2 total scores, or gestational age in the 28–36+ 6 weeks were more likely to suffer from gross motor developmental delay (OR values were 5.504, 1.083, 1.846 respectively) and fine motor developmental delay (OR values were 2.216, 1.074, 1.011, 1.661 respectively). Conclusion Gross and fine motor developmental delay were difficulties that most preschool children with ASD may face, and ASD children with motor developmental delay had greater deficits in social skills. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor the gross and fine motor development progress of children with ASD for facilitating early identification and individualized intervention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00858-9Autism spectrum disordersMotor developmental delayAgeCore symptomsMaternal risk factors
spellingShingle Dan Long
Ting Yang
Jie Chen
Jie Zhang
Ying Dai
Li Chen
Feiyong Jia
Lijie Wu
Yan Hao
Ling Li
Xiaoyan Ke
Mingji Yi
Qi Hong
Jinjin Chen
Shuanfeng Fang
Yichao Wang
Qi Wang
Chunhua Jin
Tingyu Li
Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Autism spectrum disorders
Motor developmental delay
Age
Core symptoms
Maternal risk factors
title Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
title_full Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
title_fullStr Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
title_full_unstemmed Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
title_short Motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in China and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors: a multi-center survey
title_sort motor developmental delay in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders in china and its association with core symptoms and maternal risk factors a multi center survey
topic Autism spectrum disorders
Motor developmental delay
Age
Core symptoms
Maternal risk factors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-025-00858-9
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