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. 2013 Nov;33(11):887-92.
doi: 10.1038/jp.2013.78. Epub 2013 Jul 18.

Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children

M Peralta-Carcelen  1 , K Bailey, R Rector, M Gantz; NICHD Neonatal Research Network
Collaborators, Affiliations

Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children

M Peralta-Carcelen et al. J Perinatol. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: To examine behavioral and social-emotional problems in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children and to assess factors associated with behavioral and social competency outcomes at 30 to 36 months adjusted age.

Study design: A total of 696 ELBW (401 to 1000 g) children from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network were included. Behavioral and social-emotional problems were assessed using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment administered to parents. Unadjusted comparisons were performed between children with or without behavioral or social-emotional problems. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with behavioral outcomes.

Result: Parents reported behavioral problems in 46.8%, deficits in social-emotional competence in 20.4% and having both behavioral and social-emotional competence problems in 15.4% of ELBW children. Characteristics associated with behavioral problems in logistic regression included female gender, lower household income and a Bayley Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI)<70. Deficits in social competence were associated with Bayley Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and PDI scores<70 and Hispanic or Other races compared with White non-Hispanic.

Conclusion: Half of the (51.9%) ELBW children showed behavioral or social-emotional competence problems at 30 months. Low socioeconomic status and low Bayley MDI and PDI scores were associated with behavioral and socioemotional difficulties.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: None of the authors have any disclosures or financial conflicts of interest to disclose

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Publication types

Grants and funding