Related Experiment Videos
Cognitive development of children in poverty with failure to thrive: a prospective study through age 6
Laura M Mackner1, Maureen M Black, Raymond H Starr
1Psychology Department, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA. MacknerL@chi.osu.edu
Insights
Children in poverty, with or without failure to thrive (FTT), showed cognitive declines. However, cognitive scores normalized by age 6, highlighting the importance of a child-centered home environment for cognitive development.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Pediatric Health
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Investigated cognitive development in low-income children from infancy to age 6.
- Compared children with normal growth to those with a history of failure to thrive (FTT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine cognitive development trajectories.
- To identify factors influencing cognitive outcomes in vulnerable children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 226 low-income infants.
- Included 128 children with FTT and 98 with normal growth.
- Utilized hierarchical linear modeling to analyze data.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed initial cognitive declines (1.0-1.5 SD below norm).
- Children with FTT had lower scores until age 4, then recovered.
- No significant differences in cognitive scores by age 5-6 based on growth history.
- Child-centered home environment and smaller family size correlated with better cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive scores normalized by age 6 regardless of growth history.
- Low cognitive scores in both groups underscore the need for supportive home environments.
- Promoting child-centered home environments is crucial for cognitive development in at-risk children.
Background:
This study examined the cognitive development of children in poverty with normal growth and those with a history of failure to thrive (FTT) prospectively from infancy through age 6.
Method:
Participants were 226 low-income infants with normal birthweight and no perinatal complications, congenital problems, or chronic illnesses. One hundred and twenty-eight children experienced FTT and were treated in an interdisciplinary clinic, and 98 had normal growth.
Results:
Cognitive development declined in both groups to 1.0-1.5 SD below the norm. Children with FTT had lower cognitive scores than children with adequate growth through age 4, followed by recovery. By ages 5 and 6, there were no differences in cognitive scores based on the children's growth history. Using hierarchical linear modeling, child-centered home environment and small family size were related to better cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
The low scores of both groups point to the need for programs promoting a child-centered home environment.