Maternal sensitivity and effortful control in preschoolers born preterm: a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neonatal Research

Background:

• Preterm birth poses risks to child development.
• Effortful control (EC) is crucial for executive functions.
• Maternal sensitivity is a key factor in early child development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal sensitivity and effortful control (EC) in preterm children at 42 months.
• To explore the longitudinal impact of maternal sensitivity on EC development.
• To identify potential moderators of the maternal sensitivity-EC relationship.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 61 mother-infant dyads born preterm.
• Maternal sensitivity assessed via mother-child interactions at 12 and 42 months.
• Effortful control (EC) measured at 42 months using a behavioral battery.
• Generalized estimating equations used for analysis, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Maternal sensitivity at 42 months showed a concurrent association with higher EC.
• No significant longitudinal link was found between maternal sensitivity at 12 months and EC.
• High maternal sensitivity at 12 months predicted a significant association between 42-month sensitivity and EC.

Conclusions:

• The stability of maternal sensitivity may be important for developing effortful control in preterm infants.
• Maternal sensitivity is a potential target for interventions aimed at improving executive functions in preterm children.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking stable maternal sensitivity to EC in this population.