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Are behaviour problems in extremely low‐birthweight children related to their motor ability?
Author(s) -
Danks Marcella,
Cherry Kate,
Burns Yvonne R.,
Gray Peter H.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13712
Subject(s) - cbcl , medicine , confidence interval , child behavior checklist , pediatrics , movement assessment , checklist , motor skill , social competence , demography , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , economics , cognitive psychology , social change , economic growth , sociology
Aim To investigate whether behaviour problems are independently related to mild motor impairment in 11–13‐year‐old children born preterm with extremely low birthweight ( ELBW ). Methods The cross‐sectional study included 48 (27 males) non‐disabled, otherwise healthy ELBW children (<1000 g) and 55 (28 males) term‐born peers. Parents reported behaviour using the Child Behaviour Checklist ( CBCL ). Children completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC ). Results Extremely low birthweight children had poorer behaviour scores ( CBCL Total Problem T score: mean difference = 5.89, 95% confidence interval = 10.29, 1.49, p = 0.009) and Movement ABC Total Motor Impairment Scores ( ELBW group median = 17.5, IQR = 12.3; term‐born group median = 7.5, IQR = 9, p < 0.01) than term‐born peers. Behaviour was related to motor score (regression coefficient 2.16; 95% confidence interval 0.34, 3.97, p = 0.02) independent of gender, socio‐economic factors or birthweight. Motor score had the strongest association with attention ( ρ = 0.51; p < 0.01) and social behaviours ( ρ = 0.50; p < 0.01). Conclusion Behaviour problems of otherwise healthy 11‐ to 13‐year‐old ELBW children are not related to prematurity independent of their motor difficulties. Supporting improved motor competence in ELBW preteen children may support improved behaviour, particularly attention and social behaviours.