Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children

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)