The first purpose of this study was to provide preschool (age 4) motor outcome data on four different groups of premature children categorized by perinatal insult and one full-term control group. The hypothesis states that motor outcomes will vary as a function of birth group. Preschoolers who suffered severe neurological insult at birth will have the lowest fine, oral, gross, and visual motor integration scores compared to all other groups. The second purpose was to determine the effects of three variable sets in understanding preschool motor ability. The hypothesis asserts that proximal, distal, and child sets will each have an independent effect in determining 4-year-old motor outcomes. The sample included 184 preschoolers and their mothers who were participating in a longitudinal child development study. To assure variability in perinatal risk status and socioeconomic status, the five groups included fullterm infants, healthy preterms, as well as, sick, central nervous system, and small for gestational age preterm infants. Three predictor sets, proximal, distal, and child, and four motor outcomes were measured by multiple methods. Children born prematurely scored lower on all dimensions of motor function. As predicted, the central nervous system group performed the poorest on all assessment dimensions. Impaired developmental functioning in this group appears to be related to the severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) experienced by these children. All children in this group had Grade 3 or 4 IVH. Prematurity complications had a differential effect on motor function. Hierarchical regression models explained 16-40% of motor score variance. Results are discussed in relation to heterogeneity of prematurity and proximal, distal, and child influences on motor outcomes.

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