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Prediction of behavior problems in 4-year-olds born prematurely

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2008

Susan Goldberg,
Carl Corter,
Mirek Lojkasek and
Klaus Minde
Susan Goldberg*
Affiliation:
The Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of Toronto
Carl Corter
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Mirek Lojkasek
Affiliation:
The Hospital for Sick ChildrenYork University
Klaus Minde
Affiliation:
Queen's University
*
Address reprint requests to: Susan Goldberg, Psychiatric Research Unit, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada.
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Abstract

Longitudinal follow-up data for 69 very low birthweight preterm infants were used to assess the influence of four factors (neonatal medical complications, infant temperament, mother-child relationships, and family environment) on mother and teacher reports of behavior problems at 4 years. The proposed model of such influences being tested assumed that (1) the effects of neonatal medical factors would be indirect, and (2) each of the other three factors would show high stability from 1 to 4 years and would have a direct influence on behavior problem outcomes. Neither neonatal medical data nor infant-mother attachment were good predictors of behavior problems at age 4. With these exceptions, teacher report of behavior problems was predicted in a fashion consistent with the preliminary model. However, mother reports of behavior problems was predicted only by prior mother reports of child temperament. Discussion focuses on reasons for discrepancies in these pathways of influence.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , January 1990, pp. 15 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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