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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Declining cognitive development from 8 to 18 months in preterm children predicts persisting higher parenting stress

Susanne Brummelte1, Ruth E Grunau, Anne R Synnes

  • 1Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Early Human Development
|February 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Parenting stress is higher in mothers of preterm infants, particularly when cognitive development declines. This stress may reflect realistic concerns about their child's neurodevelopmental trajectory.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment

Background:

  • Parenting stress is elevated in mothers of very preterm infants, potentially linked to neurobehavioral deficits and the trauma of premature birth.
  • Longitudinal studies examining parenting stress in relation to child cognitive development are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate parenting stress in preterm and full-term children at 8 and 18 months corrected chronological age (CCA).
  • To assess the relationship between child cognitive development, behavior, and parenting stress.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 152 children (98 preterm, 54 full-term) and their primary caregivers were studied at 8 and 18 months CCA.
  • Parenting stress was measured using the Parenting Stress Index questionnaire.
  • Child cognitive development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Mental Development Index).
  • Child interactive behavior was videotaped and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Preterm children exhibited higher total parenting stress at both 8 and 18 months CCA compared to full-term children, mainly in the Child domain.
  • Declining Bayley Mental Development Index scores from 8 to 18 months CCA predicted increased parenting stress in preterm children, even after controlling for confounding factors.
  • For full-term children, the number of children in the home and child interactive behavior predicted parental stress at 18 months CCA.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated parenting stress in preterm children persists to 18 months CCA.
  • This persistent stress may stem from realistic parental concerns regarding their child's developmental progress.
Abstract

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