Spontaneous movements of preterm-born infants predict social competence and self-esteem at early school age

13.75). Children's motor skills were evaluated using a standard test, and mothers' emotional availability was observed during mother-child play interactions. Mothers and teachers reported children's social competence, and teachers reported children's self-esteem. After controlling for child gender, gestational age at birth, and mothers' education level, the results indicated that atypical spontaneous movements in infancy predicted lower social competence and self-esteem in childhood. Motor skills in childhood mediated both links, and mothers' emotional availability mediated the link to social competence. These results highlight the significance of motor functioning in infancy and childhood for the socioemotional adjustment of preterm-born children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)

Competence (human resources) · Motor skill · Psychomotor learning · Social competence · Social emotional learning · Social relation · Social skills · Socioemotional selectivity theory · Children's Physical and Motor Development · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum