A Preliminary Investigation of Quality of Life Satisfaction Reports in Emerging Adults With and Without Developmental Coordination Disorder

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects around 5% of the population and is diagnosed on the basis of poor motor
coordination. Although we know rather little about the lifetime consequences of this disorder, it is clear that significant
difficulties remain through adolescence and into adulthood for the majority. It is also clear that significant psychosocial
consequences exist for many individuals with DCD. In the current study, quality of life satisfaction was investigated in a
group of emerging adults with and without DCD using the Quality of Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (Endicott et al. Psychopharmacology
Bulletin, 29, 321–326, 1993). Overall, the group of adults with DCD reported significantly lower levels of quality of life satisfaction across all domains
on the scale. This finding has important implications for consideration of early and later intervention for these individuals,
as well as for studies to consider the risk and protective factors at play in long-term outcome with respect to both the motor
skills and psychosocial aspects of this disorder.