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Behavior at 10 and 13 years of age for children with low birth weight
M Lagerström1, K Bremme, P Eneroth
1Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Sweden.
Insights
Low birth weight (LBW) is linked to behavioral issues in 10-year-old girls, but not boys. These effects diminish by age 13, with specific challenges noted for girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Birth weight is a critical factor in child development.
- Understanding its long-term impact on behavior is essential for early intervention.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding sex differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between birth weight and school behavior.
- To examine these associations separately for boys and girls.
- To assess developmental trajectories of behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 874 children from a Swedish community.
- Data collected on birth weight and behavioral assessments at ages 10 and 13.
- Analysis stratified by sex and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- Low birth weight (LBW) was associated with specific behavioral disorders in 10-year-olds, but not 13-year-olds.
- No significant behavioral differences were found between low birth weight and normal birth weight boys.
- Low birth weight girls exhibited specific behavioral disorders at age 10, and girls small-for-gestational age showed persistent motivation and concentration issues.
Conclusions:
- The impact of LBW on behavior is sex-specific and changes with age.
- Early behavioral interventions may be particularly beneficial for girls with LBW.
- Socioeconomic status further modifies behavioral outcomes in girls with LBW.
Abstract:
This study was based on data from a longitudinal research program. The cohort consisted of 874 normal children in an entire school grade in a Swedish community. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between birth weight and behavior at school, for all children and for each sex separately. The results identified specific aspects of behaviour disorder significantly related to low birth weight (LBW) for children at the age of 10 but not at the age of 13. When the sexes were separated, there were no relations between birth weight and deviant behaviour for boys of low birth weight as compared to boys of normal birth weight, while girls of low birth weight showed specific behavioural disorders at age 10 as compared to girls of normal birth weight. For girls reared in families of low parental socioeconomic status, aggressiveness and motor restlessness at age 10 but not at age 13 was also present. Further analyses showed that girls born small-for-gestational age showed lack of school motivation and concentration difficulties both at age 10 and age 13.