Are boys and girls just different? Gender differences in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2nd edition (M ABC‐2) suggests that they are

• Published in: Australian occupational therapy journal 2020-06, Vol.67 (3), p.229-236
• Main Authors: Fairbairn, Natalie, Galea, Claire, Wallen, Margaret, Walker, Karen, Hodge, Antoinette, Badawi, Nadia, Loughran‐Fowlds, Alison
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age differences; Boys; Cardiac surgery; Catching; Children; Children & youth; Dexterity; Evaluation; gender; Gender differences; Girls; Infants; Manual dexterity; Motor ability; Motor skill development; movement; movement assessment; Movement Assessment Battery for Children (2nd edition); Norms; Occupational therapy; Standard scores; Surgery; Therapists
• ISSN: 0045-0766; 1440-1630
• DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12646

Introduction The second edition of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M ABC‐2) is a standardised, norm referenced assessment that is frequently used by therapists to identify children with motor difficulties. The norms for the M ABC‐2 were derived from a sample of children in the United Kingdom (UK) and are combined across the age groups for boys and girls. The aims of this research were to investigate gender differences in the performance of 8‐ and 9‐year‐old Australian children and if the norms in our cohort differed from UK‐based M ABC‐2 norms. Methods Children aged 8 or 9 years of age who underwent major neonatal cardiac or non‐cardiac surgery and healthy controls were assessed using the M ABC‐2 as part of the Development After Infant Surgery (DAISy) study. Results There were statistically significant differences in the scores for boys and girls aged 8‐ and 9‐years old on the M ABC‐2. Girls performed better than boys in manual dexterity and on total standard scores. Our control group compared to the assessment norms scored significantly poorer in manual dexterity, aiming and catching and total standard scores. Conclusion Caution should be used when interpreting the results of the M ABC‐2 for Australian 8‐ and 9‐year olds. Contemporary Australian, gender‐specific M ABC‐2 norms should be considered. Further research is required to investigate gender differences and differences in performance of Australian children compared to the assessment norms in other age groups on the M ABC‐2.