Motor coordination and intelligence level in adolescents.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between motor coordination and intelligence level in adolescents. The sample was comprised of 550 adolescents from Slovenia, aged 13.1 years (SD = 0.87), who attended elementary schools. For assessment of motor coordination a battery of eight tests were used. Assessment of intelligence was carried out with test TN-20. Participants were divided into below average and above average intelligence groups based on their mean scores. ANOVA was used to determine the differences in motor coordination between above and below average intelligence groups. The most important finding was that adolescents of average intelligence performed motor coordination tasks more efficiently than did adolescents of below average intelligence. The difference is significant (p < .05) on seven of eight coordination tests. Our assumption that adolescents with higher level of intelligence would be more efficient in performing coordination tasks was confirmed.