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Developmental problems and interactions between mothers and prematurely born children
D Holditch-Davis1, T R Bartlett, M Belyea
1Department of Children's Health, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7460, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|July 18, 2000
Summary
Mothers interacting with prematurely born children can help identify developmental delays. Supporting mothers in creating better social environments enhances interventions for children with developmental challenges.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Health
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Prematurely born children often face developmental challenges.
- Mother-child interactions play a crucial role in early development.
- Understanding these interactions can inform early identification and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between developmental status in 3-year-old prematurely born children and their interactions with their mothers.
- To examine how specific developmental problems (cognitive, language, attention) influence these interactions.
- To identify potential indicators of developmental risk within mother-child dyadic behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two 2-hour observations of mother-child interactions.
- Employed the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) inventory.
- Administered developmental assessments and the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) at 3 years corrected age.
Main Results:
- Children with normal IQs engaged more in play and scored higher on the NCATS. Mothers of children with normal IQs provided more play materials.
- Mothers of children with language concerns interacted less, spoke less, exhibited more negativity, and scored lower on HOME and NCATS.
- Children with attention problems displayed higher activity levels compared to peers without attention issues.
Conclusions:
- Mother-child interactions can serve as a valuable tool for identifying prematurely born children at risk for developmental delays.
- Interventions for preschool children with developmental delays may be more effective when mothers receive support in creating optimal social environments.
- Early identification and targeted maternal support are key to improving developmental outcomes for high-risk children.