An Analysis of Relative Age Effect in Developmental Psychology: Essay

This essay explores the relative age effect, which refers to the impact of a child's birth month on their development and opportunities, particularly in sports and academics. The essay defines relative age and its consequences, highlighting how children born earlier in the year often have an advantage due to their physical and cognitive maturity compared to their younger peers in the same age group. It discusses the effects of this phenomenon, including potential disadvantages for younger children in terms of academic performance, self-esteem, and special educational needs. The essay references studies conducted in various countries to support its arguments and examines the broader implications of the relative age effect on child development, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing these disparities to ensure equitable opportunities for all children. The essay concludes by summarizing the key findings and reiterating the importance of considering relative age in understanding child development and its impact on various aspects of a child's life.

Running head: DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
1
Developmental Psychology
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Date of Submission

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Introduction
Relative age is defined as the month in which a child is born (Grove Jim, 2016).
Additionally, relative age effect is the immediate as well as long-term consequences which affect
selection and participation in youth sport. Relative age effect does not only affect the
participation in sports but also in academic work. For instance, in the application of joining
Oxbridge, most applicants were from Wales and England where the year of the school groups
was created on the basis of September-August. For the applicants who were older in the school
year groups had a higher chance to reach Oxbridge compared to younger classmates. Evidently,
the annual-age way of grouping leads to kids in an age group to be older than children in the
same age group. For instance, a child born in the month of September tends to be twelve months
older compared to another child who is born in August although they can compete and train in a
similar age grouped team. Research shows that Relative Age Effect is seen at all levels. Thus, a
person’s date of birth may have an impact whether the individual plays a sport, chosen at youth
levels, and proceed to be a professional player. Research shows that relative age effect has some
impacts on the development of a child (teoldo da costa, 2012). Notably, children who are
younger in a given year group are likely to do less in attainment exams than those who are older.
The measure subjects which are commonly used are reading, mathematics, and writing. Research
shows children who are born in a later year are frequently disadvantaged and there is a
probability of them performing less well in sports and in school than those early-born peers.
Additionally, they consequently receive less encouragement as well as recognition from others.
Notably, when they happen to be among children who mature late, the effects become amplified.
It means that the brain of younger children is not able to get classwork quickly compared to older

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children who brain has developed fully and they are able to comprehend information faster
(Musch, & Grondin, 2001).
Studies which were conducted in Chile and the United States of America found that those
children who tend to be younger in their year group are more likely to be retained in a certain
class. It means that these children usually develop at a low rate and they end up learning two or
three years in the same class. Such children develop low self-esteem since they feel unworthy
especially when they are in the same class with older pupils. Additionally, retaining in the same
class might make the pupil delay in her or his academics for a long time and spent a lot of time in
books without applying the knowledge learned in class in the real world. Additionally, these
younger children are more likely to have special educational needs. Most of them do not
understand the concept learned in class at a fast rate, and therefore they are forced to go for
tuition while others are at home. Additionally, some might even be homeschooled because their
parents may think that the teacher is not giving them the special attention that they need (Augste
& Lames, 2011).
Evidently, anyone can guess what may happen to children at a younger age than others.
In many cases, these children begin to put less concern and effort when it comes to school work,
and they may even lose a lot of ground which is relative to their more and older mature fellow
peers. These kinds of distortions occur all the time in physical activities as well as in sports. Kids
with an older developmental age or relative age or a combination of the both may outdo fellow
peers in the early years (Furley & Memmert, 2016). People mistake all these concerning the kid
outperforming others, and they may think that the child is well talented, but that is a mistake. If
an individual digs deeper concerning the kid who outperforms other in sports and in school, they
may find that the kid might have matured earlier or he or she is older than his peers. Looking at

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physical development, these children might delay even in attaining puberty. It becomes a big
problem and concern for these children who mature at a lower rate compared to their fellow
peers, and the issues of low self-esteem are manifested. These children who are younger than
others may face rejection in class and in the playing ground where others do not want to be
associated with them. Lack of friends and low IQ level in school may lead to depression and
several disorders. According to Erik Erikson in his developmental theories, he stated that people
attain puberty at the age of 9 to 18 years and research shows that some children may delay
showing signs of puberty. For instance, some girls may start their menstruation at the age of 15
years, and some boys may break their voice at the age of 18 years which shows there is some
delay in development (Mann & van Ginneken, 2017). These children are always laughed at by
other peers who have matured starter than them.
Conclusion
Conclusively, relative Age Effect is seen at all levels. Thus, a person’s date of birth may
have an impact whether the individual plays a sport, chosen at youth levels, and proceed to be a
professional player. Research shows that relative age effect has some impacts on the
development of a child. Studies which were conducted in Chile and the United States of America
found that those children who tend to be younger in their year group are more likely to be
retained in a certain class. Additionally, retaining in the same class might make the pupil delay in
her or his academics for a long time and spent a lot of time in books without applying the
knowledge learned in class in the real world. Additionally, these younger children are more
likely to have special educational needs. Such children develop low self-esteem since they feel
unworthy especially when they are in the same class with older pupils.

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References
Augste, C., & Lames, M. (2011). The relative age effect and success in German elite U-17 soccer
teams. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(9), 983–7.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.574719
Furley, P., & Memmert, D. (2016). Coaches’ implicit associations between size and giftedness:
implications for the relative age effect. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(5), 459–466.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1061198
Grove Jim. (2016). Relative age and developmental age: Is your child getting shortchanged? -
Active For Life | Active For Life. Retrieved September 21, 2017, from
http://activeforlife.com/relative-age-and-developmental-age/
Musch, J., & Grondin, S. (2001). Unequal Competition as an Impediment to Personal
Development: A Review of the Relative Age Effect in Sport, 21, 147–167. https://
doi.org/10.1006/drev.2000.0516
Mann, D. L., & van Ginneken, P. J. M. A. (2017). Age-ordered shirt numbering reduces the
selection bias associated with the relative age effect. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(8), 784–
790. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1189588
teoldo da costa, varley. (2012). relative age effect in olympic taekwondo athletes. Perceptual
and Motor Skills, 114(2), 461–468. https://doi.org/10.2466/05.25.PMS.114.2.461-468