ERIC Number: EJ1169002
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0165-0254
EISSN: N/A
Trajectories of Problem Behaviors from 4 to 23 Years in Former Preterm Infants
Scott, Allie; Winchester, Suzy Barcelos; Sullivan, Mary C.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, v42 n2 p237-247 Mar 2018
Premature infants have significant risk for later behavior problems. This study examined growth trajectories of three problem behaviors across five developmental age points from preschool to early adulthood in a well-characterized sample of premature infants. The effects of neonatal risk, gender, and socioeconomic context were modeled on these trajectories. The longitudinal sample was comprised of preterm infants (N = 160) with full variation of neonatal morbidity and birth weight (640-1,950 g). Trajectories of externalizing, internalizing and attention problem behaviors from 4 to 23 years, measured by the Child Behavior Checklist, were tested using latent growth curve modeling. The results indicate individual variation in the number of externalizing and internalizing problems over time. Externalizing problems were not significantly different for males and females, but male scores were consistently higher. Neonatal risk was significantly associated with higher internalizing problems at age 4, but was not predictive at school age and beyond. Attention-problem scores increased from early preschool through adolescence for males, but females had little change over the same ages. SES was not predictive of any problem behavior trajectories and no significant two-way interactions were found. The results advance understanding of stability and change of three important problem behaviors through preschool, childhood, and adolescence to young adulthood in prematurely born infants in order to inform clinicians about timely assessment and the refinement of effective interventions.
Descriptors: Behavior Problems, Premature Infants, Gender Differences, Scores, Correlation, Age Differences, Attention Control, At Risk Persons, Socioeconomic Status, Longitudinal Studies, Infant Mortality, Birth, Body Weight, Individual Differences, Adults, Preschool Children, Children, Adolescents, Intervention, Check Lists, Child Behavior, Statistical Analysis
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Child Behavior Checklist
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01003695