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Low birth weight, developmental milestones, and behavioral problems in Chinese children and adolescents
X Liu1, Z Sun, J M Neiderhiser
1Department of Psychiatry, Shandong Medical University, Shandong Mental Health Center, Jinan, PR China. liu7@niehs.nih.gov
Insights
Low birth weight (LBW) and delayed development in early childhood are linked to increased behavioral and emotional problems later in life. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring early development for long-term well-being.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a known risk factor for various health issues.
- Early childhood developmental milestones are crucial indicators of neurodevelopment.
- Understanding the long-term impact of LBW and developmental delays on behavior is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between low birth weight (LBW) and delayed developmental milestones with behavioral and emotional problems.
- To examine these associations in a general population sample of Chinese children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A general population sample of 3344 Chinese children and adolescents (aged 6-16 years) was studied.
- Parents completed questionnaires on birth weight, developmental milestones, and the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL).
- Teachers completed the Teacher's Report Form (TRF) for classroom behavior assessment.
Main Results:
- Low birth weight (LBW) was significantly associated with delays in all assessed developmental milestones.
- Both LBW and delayed milestones were linked to a higher risk of parent- and teacher-reported behavioral problems.
- These associations remained significant after controlling for various confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Low birth weight (LBW) and delayed early development are significant predictors of behavioral and emotional problems.
- These findings underscore the importance of early intervention and support for children with LBW and developmental delays.
Abstract:
This study examined the association of low birth weight (LBW) and developmental milestones with behavioral and emotional problems in a general population sample of 3344 Chinese children and adolescents aged 6-16 years in 1997. Parents completed a self-administrated questionnaire including information about birth weight and developmental milestones (i.e. lifting the head up, tooth eruption, speech, walking and bedwetting cessation), and the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Teachers completed the Teacher's Report Form (TRF) to assess classroom behavior problems. Results indicated that LBW and delayed developmental milestones were significantly associated with an increased risk for almost all parent- and teacher-reported behavioral problems after controlling for the potential effects of child's gender, age and birth order, parental ages at birth, education, occupation, complications at birth and number of children in the family. LBW was significantly associated with delay in achieving all developmental milestones including lifting of the head, tooth eruption, sitting without support, walking without help, speech as saying words with meaning, and bedwetting cessation. It is concluded that LBW and delayed early childhood development may predict the occurrence of a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems in later childhood and adolescence.