Citation

Langley JD, Silva PA, Williams SM. J. Saf. Res. 1980; 12(4): 175-178.

Affiliation

Langley, J. D.: U Otago Medical School, Dunedin Multidisciplinary Child Development Study, New Zealand

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The hypothesis that motor coordination is inversely related to accidents was tested on a sample of 822 children. Scores on the Arnheim and Sinclair (1974) Basic Motor Ability Test, at age 7, were compared with accident histories covering seven years. The results showed a positive relationship between motor coordination and accidents, which was not considered clinically significant. It was subsequently suggested that it was not unreasonable to reverse the original hypothesis, on the assumption that children who have well-developed motor coordination are more likely to indulge in activities that expose them to hazards. This assumption was not supported by an analysis of experiences and activities data from the sample, however.