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Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 887–892 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

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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Acknowledgements

The National Institutes of Health and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development provided grant support for the Neonatal Research Network’s Glutamine Study. Data collected at participating sites of the NRN were transmitted to RTI International, the data coordinating center (DCC) for the network, which stored, managed and analyzed the data for this study. On behalf of the NRN, Drs Abhik Das (DCC principal investigator) and Marie Gantz (DCC statistician) had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis. We are indebted to our medical and nursing colleagues and the infants and their parents who agreed to take part in this study. The following investigators, in addition to those listed as authors, participated in this study: NRN Chair: Alan Jobe, MD PhD, University Of Cincinnati. Brown University Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island (U10 HD27904)—William OH, MD; Betty R Vohr, MD; Angelita Hensman, BSN RNC; Lucy Noel, RN; Barbara Alksininis, PNP; Martha R Leonard, BA; Rachel A Vogt, MD; Teresa M Leach, MEd CAES; Victoria E Watson, MS CAS. Case Western Reserve University Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital (GCRC M01 RR80, U10 HD21364)—Avroy A Fanaroff, MD; Deanne Wilson-Costello, MD; Nancy S Newman, BA RN; Bonnie S Siner, RN; Harriet G Friedman, MA. Emory University Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, and Emory Crawford Long Hospital (GCRC M01 RR39, U10 HD27851)—Barbara J Stoll, MD; Ira Adams-Chapman, MD; Ellen Hale, RN BS; Maureen Mulligan Larossa, RN; Sheena Carter, PhD; Michelle Tidwell, BSN. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development—Linda L Wright, MD; Elizabeth M Mcclure, MEd. Indiana University Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, and Wishard Health Services (GCRC M01 RR750, U10 HD27856)—Brenda B Poindexter, MD MS; James A Lemons, MD; Anna M Dusick, MD; Carolyn Lytle, MD; Darlene Kardatzke, MD; Marilyn Bull, MD; Greg Eaken, PhD; Lon G Bohnke, MS; Leslie Richard, RN; Diana D Appel, RN BSN; Dianne Herron, RN; Lucy Miller, RN BSN CCRC; Leslie Dawn Wilson, RN BSN. RTI International (U01 HD36790)—W Kenneth Poole, PhD; Betty K Hastings; Elizabeth M Mcclure, MEd; Carolyn Petrie Huitema, MS; Scott E Schaefer, MS. Stanford University Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (GCRC M01 RR70, U10 HD27880)—David K Stevenson, MD; Susan R Hintz, MD MS; Barry E Fleisher, MD; M Bethany Ball, BS CCRC; Carol G Kuelper, PhD; Julie C Lee, PhD; Joan M Baran, PhD; Lori E Bond, PhD; Nicholas St John, PhD; Renee P Pyle, PhD. University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System and Children’s Hospital of Alabama (GCRC M01 RR32, U10 HD34216)—Waldemar A Carlo, MD; Myriam Peralta-Carcelen, MD; Monica V Collins, RN BSN Maed; Shirley S Cosby, RN BSN; Vivien A Phillips, RN BSN; Fred J Biasini, PhD; Kirstin J Bailey, PhD; Richard V Rector, PhD; Stephanie A Chopko, PhD. University of California—San Diego Medical Center and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women (U10 HD40461)—Neil N Finer, MD; Yvonne E Vaucher, MD MPH; Maynard R Rasmussen MD; Jack M Anderson, MD; Kathy Arnell, RN; Martha G Fuller, RN MSN; Donna Posin, OTR/L MPA. University Of Cincinnati University Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Good Samaritan Hospital (GCRC M01 RR8084, U10 HD27853)—Edward F Donovan, MD; Jean Steichen, MD; Barb Alexander, RN; Cathy Grisby, BSN CCRC; Marcia Mersmann, RN; Holly Mincey, RN; Jody Shively, RN; Teresa L Gratton, PA. University of Miami Holtz Children's Hospital (GCRC M01 RR16587, U10 HD21397)—Shahnaz Duara, MD; Charles R Bauer, MD; Ruth Everett-Thomas, RN MSN; Alexis N Diaz, BA; Elaine O Mathews, RN; Kasey Hamlin-Smith, PhD; Lisa Jean-Gilles, BA; Maria Calejo, MS; Silvia M Frade, BA; Silvia Hiriart-Fajardo, MD; Yamiley Gideon, BA. University of Tennessee (U10 HD21415)—Sheldon B Korones, MD; Henrietta S Bada, MD; Tina Hudson, RN BSN; Kim Yolton, PhD; Marilyn Williams, LCSW. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Parkland Health and Hospital System and Children's Medical Center Dallas (GCRC M01 RR633, U10 HD40689)—Abbot R Laptook, MD; Walid A Salhab, MD; R Sue Broyles, MD; Roy J Heyne, MD; Susie Madison, RN; Jackie F Hickman, RN; Alicia Guzman; Sally Adams, PNP; Linda Madden, PNP; Elizabeth Heyne, PA; Cristin Dooley, MS CIMI. Wayne State University Hutzel Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Of Michigan (U10 HD21385)—Seetha Shankaran, MD; Yvette Johnson, MD; Rebecca Bara, RN BSN; Geraldine Muran, RN BSN; Deborah Kennedy, RN BSN; Laura Goldston, MA. Yale University Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital (GCRC M01 RR6022, U10 HD27871)—Richard A Ehrenkranz, MD; Patricia Gettner, RN; Monica Konstantino, RN; Elaine Romano, RN BSN; Nancy Close, PhD; Walter Gilliam, PhD. This study was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development through Cooperative Agreements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    M Peralta-Carcelen

  2. Glenwood Inc, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    K Bailey

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

    R Rector

  4. Department of Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    M Gantz

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  1. M Peralta-Carcelen
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  2. K Bailey
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for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network

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Correspondence to M Peralta-Carcelen.

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All of the authors have made substantial contribution to conception and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of the data. All of the authors have participated in drafting the article and revising it critically for important intellectual content; and all have approved final version.

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Peralta-Carcelen, M., Bailey, K., Rector, R. et al. Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children. J Perinatol 33, 887–892 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.78

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