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The very low birthweight infant: impact on parents during the pre-school years
Insights
Parenting a very low birthweight (VLBW) child did not significantly impact families long-term, though VLBW children with developmental issues were evaluated less favorably. This study followed VLBW children and their families for 3-5 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Longitudinal studies are crucial for understanding the long-term effects of preterm birth.
- Parental perception plays a significant role in child development outcomes.
- Previous research has explored the challenges faced by families with very low birthweight infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term impact of having a very low birthweight (VLBW) child on family dynamics and parental evaluations.
- To identify specific factors influencing parental perceptions of VLBW children.
- To investigate the presence of social problems in families with VLBW children.
Main Methods:
- Follow-up study comparing 75 families with VLBW children (born 1970-1971, <1501 g) to 55 families with normal birthweight children (>2500 g).
- Interviews conducted when children were 3-5 years old.
- Evaluation of parental perceptions across seven developmental and play areas.
Main Results:
- Parents of VLBW children reported less favorable evaluations in development and play compared to controls.
- This difference was primarily linked to a subgroup of 22 VLBW children with neurological and/or intellectual deficits.
- No significant evidence of continuing negative impact on the family or increased social problems (e.g., child abuse, failure to thrive) was found.
Conclusions:
- The experience of having a VLBW child does not appear to have a significant, lasting negative impact on the overall family unit.
- Parental evaluation differences are largely attributable to specific child health and developmental issues, not the VLBW status itself.
- Families with VLBW children generally do not experience more severe social problems compared to families with children of normal birthweight.
Abstract:
This paper presents follow-up data on 75 families who had children born between 1970 and 1971 at birthweights under 1501 g (very low birthweight: VLBW) and a comparison group of 55 families who had children born at the same time but at birthweights over 2500 g. An interview done when the children were 3--5 yr old revealed that parents with a VLBW child gave a less favourable evaluation of their child in 2 of 7 areas considered: development and play. These differences of evaluation were caused by a subgroup of 22 VLBW children with neurological and/or intellectual defects. No evidence came forth to indicate that the experience of having a VLBW child had significant or continuing impact on the family. An absence of serious social problems such as child abuse or the child's failure to thrive were noted.