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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Infant temperament and high-risk environment relate to behavior problems and language in toddlers

Chris Derauf1, Linda LaGasse, Lynne Smith

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1319 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA. dderauf@hawaii.edu

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|January 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with an easy temperament showed fewer behavioral problems, especially in low-risk environments. An easy temperament may protect social-emotional development despite adverse social conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • High social risk environments pose challenges to child development.
  • Infant temperament is a key individual difference factor.
  • Understanding protective factors is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of easy infant temperament and environmental risk on cognitive, language, and behavioral outcomes at age 3.
  • To examine the interplay between temperament and environment in predicting child development.
  • To assess the role of caregiver language as a potential protective factor.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 290 mother-infant dyads with 3-year follow-up.
  • Temperament assessed using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire at 12 months.
  • Statistical analyses included linear regression and hierarchical linear modeling.

Main Results:

  • Easy temperament was associated with lower internalizing and externalizing behaviors, particularly in less risky environments.
  • Caregiver receptive language correlated with fewer internalizing behaviors.
  • Neither temperament nor environmental risk predicted cognitive or motor outcomes.
  • Prenatal methamphetamine exposure did not impact 3-year outcomes or temperament's protective effects.

Conclusions:

  • An easy infant temperament can buffer against behavioral problems in adverse social environments, suggesting a role in resilience.
  • Adverse social environments are linked to increased behavioral issues and language deficits.
  • Targeting temperament and environmental support may enhance social-emotional development in at-risk children.
Abstract

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