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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

Higher rates of behavioural and emotional problems at preschool age in children born moderately preterm

Marieke R Potijk1, Andrea F de Winter, Arend F Bos

  • 1Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands. m.r.potijk01@umcg.nl

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children born moderately preterm (32-35 weeks gestation) exhibit more behavioral and emotional problems than full-term peers. These issues impact social and developmental skills, necessitating targeted mental health prevention strategies for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Moderate preterm birth (32-35 weeks gestation) is associated with potential developmental challenges.
  • Understanding behavioral and emotional outcomes in moderately preterm children is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children born moderately preterm versus those born at term.
  • To analyze differences in specific problem types and by gender.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study including 995 moderately preterm and 577 term-born children.
  • Child Behavior Checklist (1.5-5 years) used to assess behavioral and emotional problems.
  • Analysis of syndrome scales, internalizing, externalizing, and total problems.

Main Results:

  • Moderately preterm children showed higher scores across all measured behavioral and emotional problem domains.
  • Increased risk for somatic complaints, internalizing, externalizing, and total problems observed in moderately preterm children.
  • Prevalence of elevated externalizing problems was higher in boys, and internalizing problems in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate preterm birth significantly impacts all areas of behavioral and emotional development, with a notable effect on girls.
  • Targeted mental health prevention programs are recommended for moderately preterm children to support their developmental and social competencies.
Abstract

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