Abstract
The contributions of perinatal events and birth status, some early motor measures, anthropometric measures, some other developmental measures, and some social and experiential measures to factor scores representing gross and fine motor performance in Dunedin seven year olds are described. With the exception of the sex of the child, the perinatal and birth status measures did not explain a significant proportion of the variance of either motor measure. Stepwise regression analyses showed that the variance of the gross motor factor score was best explained by the early motor measures followed by the anthropometric measures and other developmental measures. The variance of the fine motor factor score was best explained by the early motor measures, followed by the other developmental measures and anthropometric measures. The social and experiential measures contributed only weakly to both factor scores. All the correlates studied resulted in 41 ·8 % of the variance of gross motor performance and 27·2 % of the variance of fine motor performance being explained. The analyses were interpreted as giving support to the statement that gross and fine motor performance are influenced by the sex of the child, are built on earlier motor development, reflect the anthropometric characteristics of the child and are related to cognitive ability as well. Gross and fine motor performance have important similarities and differences when considered in terms of their correlates but both reflect the complex interaction of varying biological, developmental, and to a lesser extent social and experiential factors which together explain a substantial proportion of the variance of these aspects of human development.