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Distinct Profiles of Attention in Children Born Moderate-to-Late Preterm at 6 Years
Lilly Bogičević1, Marjolein Verhoeven1, Anneloes L van Baar1
1Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University.
Insights
Children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) face higher risks for attention difficulties. While group differences are small, MLPT children are twice as likely to exhibit suboptimal attention profiles, indicating varied attentional challenges.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Attention difficulties are frequently reported by caregivers of school-aged children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT; 32-36 weeks' gestation).
- Preterm birth is a known risk factor for neurodevelopmental challenges.
- Understanding specific attentional deficits in MLPT children is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess distinct attentional functioning aspects in children born MLPT versus full term (FT).
- To identify profiles of attentional functioning and associated risk factors in MLPT children.
- To compare cognitive and behavioral attention components between MLPT and FT groups.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 170 children (87 MLPT, 83 FT) aged 6 years were evaluated.
- Variable-centered approach used to compare group-level attentional functioning.
- Person-centered approach employed to identify distinct attentional profiles.
Main Results:
- MLPT children exhibited poorer orienting attention, processing speed, and behavioral attention compared to FT peers at a group level.
- Four attention profiles emerged: normal, overall poorer, cognitive attention deficits, and behavioral attention problems.
- MLPT children were overrepresented in suboptimal attention profiles and showed greater variability across profiles.
Conclusions:
- Children born MLPT face an increased risk for specific attention deficits, though group differences may be small.
- MLPT children demonstrate significant heterogeneity in attention difficulties.
- MLPT children are twice as likely to present with a suboptimal attention profile, highlighting cumulative risks.
Objective:
Attention difficulties are commonly reported by caregivers in school-aged children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT; 32-36 weeks' gestation). We aimed to assess distinct aspects of attentional functioning (i.e. orienting, alerting and executive attention, processing speed and behavioral components) in children born MLPT and full term (FT), profiles of attentional functioning, and associated risk factors such as preterm birth.
Methods:
Participants were 170 (87 MLPT and 83 FT) children, evaluated on cognitive and behavioral attention aspects at 6 years of age. We used a variable-centered approach to compare attentional functioning of children born MLPT and FT at group level, and a person-centered approach to identify profiles of attentional functioning. Neonatal and demographic characteristics of these profiles were compared.
Results:
The variable-centered approach showed that at group level children born MLPT had poorer orienting attention and processing speed, and behavioral attention than children born FT. The person-centered approach revealed four profiles: (a) normal attentional functioning, (b) overall poorer attention, (c) poorer cognitive attention, and (d) behavioral attention problems. Children born MLPT were overrepresented in each of the suboptimal attention profiles, and were more dispersed across profiles than children born FT.
Conclusions:
Children born MLPT are at increased risk of difficulties in some attention aspects, but at group level differences with children born FT are small. However, children born MLPT show considerable variation in the nature of attention difficulties and are twice as likely to show a suboptimal attention profile, indicating a cumulation of poorer attention scores.
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