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Published on: February 5, 2019
Behavioral and Social Functioning of Children With and Without Positional Plagiocephaly: Late Infancy to School Age
Cindy Ola1,2, Matthew L Speltz1,2, Brent R Collett1,2
1University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Insights
Children with positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB) showed limited social-behavioral differences compared to peers. Only moderate/severe PPB was linked to slightly higher internalizing behaviors and lower competence at age seven.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB) is common in infants.
- PPB is linked to cognitive and motor development, but social-behavioral outcomes are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare social-behavioral development in children with and without PPB.
- To investigate if PPB severity moderates social-behavioral differences.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 220 children with PPB history and 164 controls (ages 4 months to 7 years).
- Behavioral assessments included Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in internalizing, externalizing, or total problems between PPB and control groups.
- Children with PPB had lower total competence scores at age 7.
- Moderate/severe PPB linked to higher internalizing scores at 36 months and lower competence at 7 years; mild PPB showed no differences.
Conclusions:
- Limited evidence suggests PPB is not strongly associated with social-emotional and behavioral adjustment issues.
- PPB severity may play a role in specific developmental outcomes, particularly in moderate to severe cases.
Abstract:
Positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB) is associated with cognition, motor, and other developmental outcomes, but little is known about the social-behavioral adjustment of children with PPB. The primary aim of this study was to compare the social-behavioral development of preschool and school-age children with and without PPB and to examine the potential moderating effects of PPB severity on group differences.
Abstract:
Two hundred twenty children with a history of PPB and 164 controls participated in at least one behavioral assessment at 4-11 months, 18 months, 36 months, and 7 years. The frequencies of observed problem behaviors and social competence were estimated using the Child Behavior Checklist Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/1.5-5), Caregiver-Teacher Report Form(C-TRF), CBCL/6-18, and Teacher Report Form.
Abstract:
Children with PPB were similar to controls on the internalizing, externalizing, or total problems composites. At 7 years, CBCL/6-18 total competence scores were significantly lower in children with histories of PPB than controls. In analyses stratified by PPB severity, we found that children with moderate/severe PPB had slightly higher scores on the C-TRF internalizing scale at 36 months and lower total competence scores at age 7 years. Children who had a history of mild PPB were similar to controls on all outcomes.
Abstract:
This study is the first to examine social and behavioral outcomes in a large cohort of children with and without a history of PPB. We found limited evidence of an association between PPB and parent and teacher-reported social-emotional and behavioral adjustment through early school-age.
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