The social competence of very-low-birthweight children: teacher, peer, and self-perceptions.
Whether very-low birthweight (VLBW less than or equal to 1500 gm) children differ from normal birthweight (NBW greater than 2500 gm) children with respect to social (as opposed to intellectual) competence has been a relatively neglected issue. The social competence at school age of 183 VLBW children was therefore compared with that of 183 NBW children born at the same hospital matched for age, gender, social class, parity, and maternal age. A multi-informant, multidefinitional approach to social competence was adopted involving teacher, (same-gender) peer, and self-ratings of the 366 children's levels of social maladjustment, social skill, and peer acceptance. VLBW children from the upper, middle, and lower social classes received significantly higher mean sadness/unhappiness scores (even with IQ covaried) than their NBW counterparts. Mean scores for the VLBW group were also higher for social withdrawal, and lower for both social skill and peer acceptance. Possible antecedents and consequences of such group differences in affect and sociability are suggested.
Hoy
E A
EA
School of Psychology, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Sykes
D H
DH
Bill
J M
JM
Halliday
H L
HL
McClure
B G
BG
Reid
M M
MM
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012928:Social Desirability