Mastery motivation is associated with early development in children with motor delays

This longitudinal study related children's mastery motivation to a variety of biological, environmental, and developmental factors. The sample consisted of 40 children (24 males) with motor delays (10.93 ± 2.56 months corrected age at baseline), tested at baseline and 3-, 6-, 12-, and 36-months post-baseline. No significant relations were observed between mastery motivation and sex (biological factor) or socioeconomic status and home affordances (environmental factors). Children with mild motor delays (biological risk) had higher mastery motivation at the age of four years compared to children with significant delays. Advanced early development of fine motor, receptive language, expressive language, means-end problem-solving, and cognitive skills was associated with higher mastery motivation at four years. Mastery motivation may be linked with children's level of physical disability as well as their prior developmental experience.