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Early parenting is associated with the developing brains of children born very preterm

Karli Treyvaud1,2,3, Deanne K Thompson2,4,5, Claire E Kelly2

  • 1Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

The Clinical Neuropsychologist
|September 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Positive parenting was linked to better brain growth in boys born very preterm (VPT). Intrusive parenting was associated with smaller brain volumes and altered white matter in VPT children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Children born very preterm (VPT) face risks for neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Parenting environment is a critical factor influencing child development.
  • Understanding the impact of parenting on brain development in VPT infants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between parenting behaviors and brain structure and growth in children born very preterm (VPT).
  • To explore sex-specific effects of parenting on neurodevelopment in VPT children.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 118 children born VPT (<30 weeks' gestation or <1,250 g birth weight).
  • Parenting behavior observed at 2 years corrected age.
  • Brain MRI scans at term equivalent and 7 years corrected age analyzed for volumes and white matter microstructure.

Main Results:

  • Sensitive parenting associated with larger basal ganglia volumes and greater basal ganglia/amygdala growth in boys at 7 years.
  • Intrusive parenting linked to smaller intracranial/grey matter volumes and altered white matter microstructure (cerebellum, corticospinal tract, etc.) in VPT children at 7 years.

Conclusions:

  • Early positive parenting may enhance subcortical brain development in VPT boys.
  • Early intrusive parenting may negatively impact cortical brain volumes and white matter integrity in VPT children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Parentingbrain developmentbrain volumediffusion imagingprematurity

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