title: Difference in mother-child interaction between preterm- and term-born preschoolers with and without disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate differences in the quality of mother-child interaction between preterm- and term-born children at age 5, and to study the association of mother-child interaction with sociodemographic characteristics and child disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preterm children (n = 94), born at <30 weeks' gestation and/or birth weight <1000 g, and term children (n = 84) were assessed at corrected age of 5 using a mother-child interaction observation. Disabilities were assessed using an intelligence test, behaviour questionnaires for parents and teachers, and motor and neurological examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers of preterm-born children were less supportive of and more interfering with their children's autonomy than mothers of term-born children. This difference was only partly explained by sociodemographic factors. Dyads showed a lower quality of mother-child interaction if children had a severe disability, especially when mothers had a lower level of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five years after birth, mother-child interaction of very premature children and their mothers compared unfavourably with term children and their mothers. Mothers with sociodemographic disadvantages, raising a preterm child with severe disabilities, struggle most with giving adequate sensitive support for the autonomy development of their child. Focused specialized support for these at risk groups is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Psychosocial Department of the Emma's Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E.S.Potharst@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Eva S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Potharst
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuengel
authors.forename: Bob F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Last
authors.forename: Aleid G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: van Wassenaer
authors.forename: Joke H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Bregje A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Houtzager
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047929:Term Birth