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Associations Between Mode of Birth and Neuropsychological Development in Children Aged 4 Years: Results from a Birth

Lea Takács1,2, Samuel P Putnam3, Catherine Monk4,5

  • 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. lea.takacs@ff.cuni.cz.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|October 31, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cesarean section (CS) birth was linked to enhanced problem-solving skills in four-year-old boys. However, CS was associated with lower gross motor scores in girls, with no impact on overall behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Child development and behavior are influenced by various perinatal factors.
  • Cesarean section (CS) rates have increased globally, necessitating research into its long-term effects.
  • Understanding the impact of birth mode on early childhood outcomes is crucial for parental guidance and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between Cesarean section (CS) and child development and behavior at age four.
  • To explore potential sex-specific differences in the relationship between CS and developmental outcomes.
  • To determine if birth mode influences behavioral assessments in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal study design.
  • Inclusion of 256 term-born children without significant perinatal issues.
  • Assessment of development and behavior at age four using validated tools: Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), Children's Behavior Questionnaire, and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire.
  • Application of multivariate linear regression analyses to examine associations.

Main Results:

  • Cesarean section (CS) was associated with superior scores in the Problem Solving domain of the ASQ-3 for the entire cohort.
  • This positive association in problem-solving was significant specifically in boys.
  • Girls born via CS showed less optimal ratings in the Gross Motor domain of the ASQ-3.
  • No significant associations were found between the mode of birth and behavioral outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Cesarean section (CS) may be linked to specific developmental advantages, such as enhanced problem-solving skills, particularly in boys.
  • Potential sex-specific developmental impacts of CS, like effects on gross motor skills in girls, warrant further investigation.
  • Current findings suggest that Cesarean section (CS) does not appear to influence behavioral outcomes at age four.

Keywords:
BehaviorCesarean sectionDevelopmentPre-schoolTemperament

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