Purpose
The study was done to investigate behavioral problems in toddlers who were born prematurely and to analyze related factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional explorative study was conducted with 72 preterm birth (PTB) children at 24 to 41 months of corrected age who were born at 28 to 37 weeks’ gestation. During home visits, behavior problems were assessed using the Behavior Rating Index for Children (BRIC). Using a BRIC score of ≥30, children with suspected behavior problems were grouped in the non-regular behavior group.
Results
Of the children, 38.9% belong to the non-regular behavior group. The mental development index score for the Korean-Bayley Scale of Infant Development-II was higher for the non-regular behavior group compared to the regular behavior group (t = 2.26, p = .027). Logistic regression analysis showed that lower maternal attachment (<96, OR=3.4, 95% CI[1.1, 10.4]) and higher parenting stress (≥97, OR=4.8, 95% CI[1.3, 17.3]) were independently related to non-regular behavior.
Conclusion
PTB Toddlers are at risk for behavior problems which are associated with low cognitive performance. Maternal-child attachment and maternal parenting stress were strongly related to behavior problems in these children. More attention is needed to understand possible behavior problems in young children with PTB, particularly focusing on maternal-child interaction and maternal mental well-being.

Citations

• Validation of the Korean Version of the Maternal Postpartum Attachment Development Scale for Mothers of Children who were in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  Ah Rim Kim, Young Ran Tak
  Korean Journal of Child Studies.2018; 39(1): 129.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing Parenting Stress in Mothers of Preschoolers Born Prematurely
  Sangmi Lee
  Child Health Nursing Research.2017; 23(4): 470.     CrossRef