Psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the home environment measure for motor development

Abstract

Purpose. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Affordance in the Home Environment for Motor Development – Toddler version (AHEMD-Toddler-C) for children developing typically (DT) or having motor delays (MD).

Methods. This was a methodology study. Parent–child dyads with DT (n  ==  106, mean age of 27.9 months) and with MD (n  ==  45, 23.6 months) were enrolled. For test-retest reliability, parents completed AHEMD-Toddler-C twice within 2 weeks. For convergent validity, correlations were analysed between AHEMD-Toddler-C and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (HOME), and between AHEMD-Toddler-C and family variables.

Results. Test-retest reliabilities for AHEMD-Toddler-C were adequate except for Variety of Stimulation (VS) subscale. For convergent validity, the correlation coefficients between AHEMD and HOME were 0.44 (p  <0.05). Two subscales of motor toys of AHEMD demonstrated convergent validity with Learning Material subscale of HOME and some family variables in children with MD. Inside Space subscale of AHEMD correlated with family variables. Outside Space (OS) subscale of AHEMD was not significantly correlated with HOME or family variables.

Conclusion. AHEMD-Toddler-C is a new measure option to explore the relationships between home environment and motor development in Chinese-speaking countries. Nevertheless, VS and OS subscales should be used cautiously.

Keywords:

• Environment
• child
• reliability and validity
• play and materials
• developmental disabilities

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Luis Paulo Rodrigues for his permission to translate the AHEMD into Chinese. Special thanks to the National Science Council, R.O.C. (Taiwan), We really appreciate the parents and their children for participating in this study. We would also like to thank the graduate students from the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, and School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine in National Taiwan University for helping with data collection.

Declaration of interest:

This study was supported by them (Grant NSC 96-2314-B-002-074-MY3). The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.