title: Social-emotional difficulties in very preterm and term 2 year olds predict specific social-emotional problems at the age of 5 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very preterm children have increased risk for social-emotional problems. This study examined relationships between early social-emotional difficulties and later social-emotional problems, and whether this differed by group (very preterm or term).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 189 children born less than 30 weeks gestation or less than 1,250 g at birth and 78 term-born children. Parent-report questionnaires were used to assess social-emotional development at 2 (infant toddler social emotional assessment) and 5 years of age (strengths and difficulties questionnaire). Social risk and children's cognitive development were collected at the age of 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emotional symptoms at the age of 5 years were predicted by internalizing problems at the age of 2 years, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention at the age of 5 years were predicted by externalizing problems at the age of 2 years, and peer relationship problems and prosocial behaviors at the age of 5 years were predicted by social-emotional competence at the age of 2 years. Relationships were not moderated by group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications for early detection of social-emotional problems and provision of targeted interventions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: VIBeS, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Level 5 West Building, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. karli.treyvaud@mcri.edu.au
authors.forename: Karli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Treyvaud
authors.forename: Lex W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gehan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Terrie E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior