The main aim of the present study was the evaluation of dynamic relationships between dimensions of temperament and motor coordination in 3-7-year-old children in Greece. More specifically, the main objectives of the current study were the test outcomes regarding the psychometric properties (structural validity and internal consistency) of the Greek versions of (a) the Child Behavior Questionnaire-very short format (CBQ-VSF), and (b) the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). For the purposes of the present study, 231 parents (202 women and 29 men), aged 23-53 years (mean (M) = 36.7 and standard deviation (SD) = 5.4) completed the aforementioned questionnaires. The sample consisted of 231 children (110 girls and 121 boys) aged 3-7 years (M = 4.75 years and SD = 1.30). For the DCDQ, the confirmatory factor analysis revealed three factors consistent with the factors that emerged from the constructs, with strong internal consistency reliability. Furthermore, regarding the CBQ-VSF, which measures the dimensions of temperament, the implementation of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated three factors and satisfactory internal consistency reliability, as well. Finally, path analysis revealed that temperamental effortful control, which mirrors both inhibitory and self-regulatory capacity, has a positive effect on motor coordination.
Keywords: early childhood; effortful control; motor coordination; negative affectivity; surgency/extraversion.