Citation

Cosentino-Rocha L, Klein VC, Linhares MB. Infant Behav. Dev. 2014; 37(3): 446-456.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: linhares@fmrp.usp.br.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.infbeh.2014.04.003

PMID

24793755

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the direct and interactive effects of premature birth and gender on temperament and behavioral problems in 80 children aged 18-36 months. The sample was composed of children born preterm (PT; n=44) and children born full-term (FT; n=36). The children's mothers completed temperament (ECBQ) and behavioral problem (CBCL 1.5-5) assessments. Analyses of variance (ANOVA 2×2) were performed. With regard to temperament, PT children exhibited significantly higher scores on high-intensity pleasure and perceptual sensitivity and lower scores on discomfort, cuddliness, and Attentional Focusing compared with FT children. Girls scored higher on fear and discomfort compared with boys. With concern to behavioral problems, PT children scored higher on attention problems compared with FT children. No interactive effect of premature birth and gender on temperament or behavioral problems was found.

Language: en