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Associations between maternal scaffolding and executive functioning in 3 and 4 year olds born very low birth weight

Jean Lowe1, Sarah J Erickson2, Peggy MacLean1

  • 1University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Early Human Development
|August 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal verbal scaffolding is linked to better cognitive skills in preschoolers born very low birth weight (VLBW). This suggests parent-focused interventions can support early development in VLBW children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preschoolers born very low birth weight (VLBW) exhibit executive function deficits compared to normal birth weight (NBW) peers.
  • Maternal verbal scaffolding shows promise in supporting cognitive development in preschoolers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal verbal scaffolding, Verbal IQ (VIQ), and executive function in VLBW preschoolers.
  • To compare these associations in VLBW and NBW preschoolers.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 64 VLBW and 40 NBW preschoolers (ages 3.5-4 years).
  • Measures included Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (VIQ) and executive function tests (e.g., Bear Dragon, Gift Delay Peek).
  • Maternal verbal scaffolding was coded from play sessions; analyses controlled for covariates.

Main Results:

  • VLBW preschoolers performed significantly lower on VIQ and executive function tasks than NBW peers.
  • Maternal verbal scaffolding correlated with VIQ in VLBW children and Gift Delay Peek in NBW children.
  • VLBW girls outperformed VLBW boys on VIQ and Bear Dragon.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal verbal scaffolding is associated with specific cognitive outcomes in preschoolers.
  • Parent-focused interventions incorporating scaffolding training may enhance early verbal reasoning and executive function in VLBW children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child, preschoolExecutive functionInfant, very low birth weightLanguageParenting

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