Temperament of preterm versus full-term infants
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Preterm infants born before 37 weeks gestation show no significant differences in temperament compared to full-term infants at 4 to 8 months corrected age. This suggests prematurity itself does not impact early infant temperament.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neonatal Studies
- Child Behavior
Background:
- Infant temperament is crucial for understanding early behavioral development.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results on the impact of prematurity on infant temperament.
- A comprehensive understanding of factors influencing temperament is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether preterm birth affects infant temperament at 4 to 8 months corrected age.
- To compare temperament profiles of preterm infants with those of full-term infants.
- To identify potential risks for difficult temperament in high-risk preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 2443 Australian infants, including 126 preterm infants (less than 37 weeks gestation).
- Utilized the validated Infant Temperament Questionnaire for ratings at 4 to 8 months corrected age.
- Compared temperament dimensions and clinical categories between preterm and full-term infants.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found between preterm and full-term infants in sociodemographic variables.
- Mothers' global temperament ratings and reported incidence of colic, sleep problems, and crying did not differ between groups.
- No differences were observed in individual temperament dimensions or clinical categories between preterm and full-term infants.
Conclusions:
- Prematurity per se does not appear to affect observed infant temperament at 4 to 8 months corrected age.
- Findings do not extend to high-risk preterm infants with medical complications requiring intensive care.
- Further research is needed to explore temperament in medically complex preterm infants.
Abstract:
The temperament of a group of preterm infants (n = 126) was studied as part of a large, longitudinal study of infant temperament and behavior in a representative sample of Australian infants (n = 2443). Utilizing the Infant Temperament Questionnaire of Carey and McDevitt, previously revised and validated for an Australian population, ratings were made at 4 to 8 months corrected age, and data for the preterm group (less than 37 weeks gestation) were compared to those infants born at term (37 to 41 weeks). There were no significant differences between the two groups on any of the sociodemographic variables, on the mother's global rating of temperament, or on the reported incidence of colic, sleep problems, and excessive crying. There were also no differences between premature and full-term infants on any of the individual dimensions or clinical categories of temperament. We conclude that prematurity per se does not affect observed temperament at 4 to 8 months. However, we cannot extend these conclusions to high-risk infants who experience medical complications of prematurity, and who require intensive care for prolonged periods of time. These may represent an entirely different category of risk for subsequent difficult temperament and behavior problems.