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Cognitive development of children in poverty with failure to thrive: a prospective study through age 6
Author(s) -
Mackner Laura M.,
Black Maureen M.,
Starr, Jr Raymond H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/1469-7610.00160
Subject(s) - failure to thrive , cognition , poverty , cognitive development , pediatrics , child development , psychology , prospective cohort study , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , surgery , economics , economic growth
Background: This study examined the cognitive development of children in poverty with normal growth and those with a history of failure to thrive (FTT) prospectively from infancy through age 6. Method: Participants were 226 low‐income infants with normal birthweight and no perinatal complications, congenital problems, or chronic illnesses. One hundred and twenty‐eight children experienced FTT and were treated in an interdisciplinary clinic, and 98 had normal growth. Results: Cognitive development declined in both groups to 1.0–1.5 SD below the norm. Children with FTT had lower cognitive scores than children with adequate growth through age 4, followed by recovery. By ages 5 and 6, there were no differences in cognitive scores based on the children's growth history. Using hierarchical linear modeling, child‐centered home environment and small family size were related to better cognitive performance. Conclusions: The low scores of both groups point to the need for programs promoting a child‐centered home environment.