Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2026
Language
English
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Priscila Tamplain, PhD
Second Advisor
Mark Ricard, PhD
Third Advisor
Shikha Prashad, PhD
Fourth Advisor
Haylie Miller, PhD
Abstract
Motor competence plays a foundational role in children’s participation, physical activity, adaptive behavior, and overall quality of life. Although motor difficulties are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (autism) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), these challenges are frequently under-identified and insufficiently characterized, particularly in autistic populations. Existing research demonstrates substantial overlap in motor challenges across autism and DCD; however, relatively little work has integrated caregiver perceptions, standardized motor assessment, and mechanistic postural control measures within the same investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine motor competence and postural control in autistic children, children with DCD, and neurotypical (NT) peers using complementary ecological, performance-based, and mechanistic assessment approaches.
Study 1 investigated the relationship between caregiver-reported motor difficulties and performance-based motor outcomes. Eighty participants, including autistic children, children with DCD, and NT peers, completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Third Edition (MABC-3) and the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Third Edition (BOT-3); caregivers completed the MABC-3 Checklist. Associations between caregiver-reported difficulties and standardized motor proficiency varied by group and assessment, with the strongest coefficients observed in autistic participants. The MABC-3 discrepancy score differed significantly across groups, with a significant post hoc difference between the DCD and NT groups. Exploratory discrepancy–proficiency correlations were interpreted cautiously because each discrepancy score contains the corresponding performance score. Overall, caregiver-reported measures captured meaningful aspects of children’s functioning while also reflecting contextual and methodological influences.
Study 2 examined sensory organization and postural control mechanisms using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) of the NeuroCom SMART Balance Manager. Equilibrium scores, sensory ratios, and postural strategy selection were compared across autistic children, children with DCD, and NT peers. Both neurodivergent groups demonstrated reduced balance performance relative to NT children. Their patterns of strategy use and sensory organization differed in comparison with NT peers; however, the autistic and DCD groups did not differ significantly from each other on individual SOT outcomes. These findings indicate shared postural control challenges across autism and DCD while identifying patterns that warrant further study in larger, carefully characterized samples.
Collectively, this dissertation advances understanding of motor competence in neurodevelopmental populations by integrating caregiver perception, standardized motor proficiency, and mechanistic postural control assessment. Findings highlight the multidimensional nature of motor difficulties in autism and DCD and emphasize the importance of using complementary assessment approaches to improve identification, characterization, and intervention planning for neurodivergent children.
Keywords
autism, developmental coordination disorder, standardized motor assessment, parent-reported measures, motor proficiency, postural control
Disciplines
Biomechanics | Motor Control | Other Kinesiology
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Alvarez, Crystal E., "Understanding Motor Competence in Autism and Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Everyday Performance to Underlying Postural Control Mechanisms" (2026). Kinesiology Dissertations. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/kinesiology_dissertations2/4
Comments
In addition to my acknowledgements, I'd like to send a thank you to Pearson for funding my research and making this opportunity possible. I'd also like to thank the Department of Kinesiology for providing me with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship position and scholarship funding which enabled me to complete my PhD program.