Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated

There is a growing literature connecting poor motor coordination to physical and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. These studies suggest that children with disorders such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are at greater risk for depression and anxiety, as well as obesity...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cairney, J., Rigoli, Daniela, Piek, Jan Patricia
Format: Journal Article
Published: Academic Press 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29645
_version_ 1848752860041314304
author Cairney, J.
Rigoli, Daniela
Piek, Jan Patricia
author_facet Cairney, J.
Rigoli, Daniela
Piek, Jan Patricia
author_sort Cairney, J.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description There is a growing literature connecting poor motor coordination to physical and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. These studies suggest that children with disorders such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are at greater risk for depression and anxiety, as well as obesity, and poor physical fitness. With regard to internalizing problems (symptoms of depression and anxiety), there is also evidence to suggest that the environment may play an important role in the etiology of psychological distress in this population. Cairney, Veldhuizen & Szatmari (2010) used the phrase “environmental stress hypothesis” to highlight the role that negative exposure to personal and interpersonal stressors might play in accounting for higher rates of internalizing symptoms in children with DCD. In this paper, we elaborate further on this basic premise, offering a model linking DCD to internalizing problems based on Pearlin’s stress process framework. In addition to stressors (risk) and protective factors, we incorporate both physical activity and obesity into our stress model. Next, we review the existing literature to see if there is evidence supporting specific components (pathways) of the model. In doing so, areas in need of further research are identified. Implications for intervention are also provided.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T08:15:19Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-29645
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T08:15:19Z
publishDate 2013
publisher Academic Press
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-296452017-09-13T15:25:59Z Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated Cairney, J. Rigoli, Daniela Piek, Jan Patricia There is a growing literature connecting poor motor coordination to physical and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. These studies suggest that children with disorders such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are at greater risk for depression and anxiety, as well as obesity, and poor physical fitness. With regard to internalizing problems (symptoms of depression and anxiety), there is also evidence to suggest that the environment may play an important role in the etiology of psychological distress in this population. Cairney, Veldhuizen & Szatmari (2010) used the phrase “environmental stress hypothesis” to highlight the role that negative exposure to personal and interpersonal stressors might play in accounting for higher rates of internalizing symptoms in children with DCD. In this paper, we elaborate further on this basic premise, offering a model linking DCD to internalizing problems based on Pearlin’s stress process framework. In addition to stressors (risk) and protective factors, we incorporate both physical activity and obesity into our stress model. Next, we review the existing literature to see if there is evidence supporting specific components (pathways) of the model. In doing so, areas in need of further research are identified. Implications for intervention are also provided. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29645 10.1016/j.dr.2013.07.002 Academic Press restricted
spellingShingle Cairney, J.
Rigoli, Daniela
Piek, Jan Patricia
Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title_full Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title_fullStr Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title_full_unstemmed Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title_short Developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: The environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
title_sort developmental coordination disorder and internalizing problems in children: the environmental stress hypothesis elaborated
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/29645