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Brief report: four years after a preterm birth: children's development and their mothers' beliefs and expectations

R Pearl1, M Donahue

  • 1University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Education 60607, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Even in supportive environments, preterm children show developmental lags in language and motor skills by age 4 1/2. Maternal beliefs also differed, suggesting preterm birth impacts development regardless of socioeconomic status.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Socioeconomic disadvantages often negatively impact child development.
  • Preterm birth is a known risk factor for developmental delays.
  • This study investigates preterm children in advantageous environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the development of preterm children at 4 1/2 years old in socioeconomically advantaged settings.
  • To examine maternal beliefs and expectations in relation to child development.
  • To determine if preterm birth poses risks even with compensatory environmental factors.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study comparing 32 preterm children with 41 full-term comparison children.
  • Developmental assessments included receptive vocabulary, syntactic complexity, articulation, and visual-motor skills.
  • Maternal interviews or questionnaires assessed beliefs and expectations.

Main Results:

  • Preterm children performed at or above age norms in most areas.
  • Preterm children scored significantly lower in receptive vocabulary, syntactic complexity, articulation, and visual-motor skills compared to controls.
  • Mothers of preterm and comparison children differed in specific beliefs and expectations.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm birth is a significant developmental factor during the preschool years.
  • Even in supportive environments, preterm children may require targeted interventions.
  • Maternal factors may interact with preterm birth to influence developmental trajectories.

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