The Impact of Low-risk Prematurity on Maternal Behaviour and Toddler Outcomes

Abstract

This short-term longitudinal research project was designed to compare the maternal behaviour of mothers whose toddlers had been born preterm with the maternal behaviour of mothers whose toddlers had been born at term ; the outcomes for the toddlers were also assessed. Twenty-one toddlers who had been born preterm with low medical risk (1460-2420 grams) were compared with 21 term toddlers who were matched in term s of social class. The heightened maternal responsiveness that had been observed during the rst year with preterm infants had disappeared by 12 months, and by 20 months it was the mothers whose infants had been born at term who were more vocally responsive. During the second year, the mothers of preterm toddlers were characterised by more maternal control behaviour than were the mothers of term toddlers. Assessments of cognitive and language performance at the gestationally corrected ages of 12 and 20 months did not differentiate the toddlers who had been born preterm and term. In terms of play skills, re ected during interaction with their mothers at 12 and 20 months, the preterm toddlers were more actively involved than were the term toddlers. Despite the successful adjustment of these low-risk preterm toddlers, maternal behaviour was affected by the circum stances of preterm birth, even after 20 months.

Reading difficulties and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity behaviours: evidence of an early association in a nonclinical sample

“…Many measures of SES are available (e.g., Blishen, Carroll & Moore, 1987;Entwislea & Astone, 1994;Hollingshead, 1975;Nakao & Treas, 1992). The Hollingshead (1975) Four-Factor Index of Social Status has been one of the most frequently used, proving valuable as a predictor/covariate and/or outcome measure in studies of dyslexia (e.g., Felton, Naylor & Wood, 1990;Shaywitz et al, 1999), premature infants (Barratt, 1996) and psychiatric disorders such as major depression (e.g., Cuffe, Waller, Cuccaro, Pumariega & Garrison, 1995). Cirino et al (2002) found a high inter-measure agreement (range r = .81 to .88) across three SES measures (the Hollingshead Four-Factor Index, the Nakao and Treas Scale and the Blishen, Carroll and Moore Scale) using data from two countries (United States and Canada).…”

Influence of infant and child facial cues of low body weight on adults' ratings of adoption preference, cuteness, and health

“…Several studies have documented that premature infants as well as infants and children with health problems sometimes receive less affection, attention, and/or care from their parents (Baratt, Roach, & Leavitt, 1996;Burgess & Conger, 1978;Burgess & Garbarino, 1983;Hagen, 1999;Mann, 1992;Schepher-Hughes, 1985). Poor or reduced parental care can result in physical (Bugental, Martorell, &Barraza, 2003), behavioral, andemotional (Belsky, 1999;Bornstein & Tamis-LeMonda, 2001;Goldberg, 1997) problems in children.…”

Prematuridade e interação mãe-criança: revisão sistemática da literatura

“…Muitos estudos têm avaliado a interação mãe-criança ex-prematura nos primeiros anos de vida da criança e identificado diferenças em comparação a crianças a termo (Barnard & Kelly, 1990;Barratt, Roach & Leavitt, 1996;Laucht & cols., 1997).…”