Relationship between Mastery Motivation and Sensory Processing Difficulties in South Korean Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.

The study participants were recruited from a special day care and rehabilitation clinic, meaning they were already receiving services and likely had more severe difficulties than children with DCD in the general community. All data relied on parent reports, which may introduce bias regarding the child's behavior and sensory responses. The study did not account for co-occurring conditions such as dyslexia, which can affect self-esteem and motivation. The cross-sectional design cannot prove that low motivation causes sensory difficulties or vice versa; it only shows an association.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was not funded by any specific commercial sponsor.

Do not assume that improving sensory processing alone will increase a child's motivation. The study shows that low motivation and fear of failure are strongly linked to worse sensory outcomes, suggesting that therapeutic approaches must actively address psychological factors like confidence and reaction to failure, not just sensory input.