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Emerging self-regulation in toddlers born preterm or low birth weight: Differential susceptibility to parenting?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2011

Julie Poehlmann ,
A. J. M. Schwichtenberg ,
Rebecca J. Shlafer ,
Emily Hahn ,
Jon-Paul Bianchi  and
Rachael Warner
Julie Poehlmann*
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Madison
A. J. M. Schwichtenberg
Affiliation:
University of California–Davis
Rebecca J. Shlafer
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota
Emily Hahn
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Jon-Paul Bianchi
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Rachael Warner
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Madison
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Julie Poehlmann, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705; E-mail: poehlmann@waisman.wisc.edu.
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Abstract

The differential susceptibility to parenting model was examined in relation to toddler self-regulation in a prospective longitudinal study of infants born preterm or low birth weight. We followed 153 mother–infant dyads across five time points between the infant's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stay and 24 months postterm. Assessments of infant temperament, quality of early parenting interactions, contextual variables, and toddler effortful control and behavior problems were conducted. Results supported differential susceptibility and dual risk models in addition to documenting main effects of early parenting on children's emerging self-regulation. Our data suggested that preterm or low birth weight infants who were prone to distress or rated by mothers as more difficult were particularly susceptible to the effects of early negative parenting.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 177 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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