Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - 2 edition: A Study With Children Aged 12 to 48 Months

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II (PDMS-2 - Folio & Fewell, 2000) using a Portuguese sample. Methods: The validation of the Portuguese version of the PDMS-2 was applied according to the manual, for 392 children, from two institutions, from 12 to 48 months, with an analysis of the internal consistency (α Cronbach), of Temporal Stability (ICC) and Construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis). Results: The results of the confirmatory factorial analysis (χ2 = 55.614; df=4; p=.06; χ2/df =13.904; SRMR=.065; CFI=.99, TLI=.99, RMSEA=.068) of two factors (Gross Motor and Fine Motor) as the original version. Most of the subtests had good internal consistency (α = .85) and good test-retest stability (ICC = .98 to .99). Conclusions: These results indicate that the Portuguese version of the PDMS-2 is an accurate and valid instrument to evaluate the gross and fine motor skills of children aged 12 to 48 months, can be used as a reference instrument by health and education professionals, as an indicator and support for the assessment of motor skills, thus having a assessment instrument that allows to detect maladjustments, deficiencies or precociousness, so that the child can later receive the appropriate intervention