title: Preterm birth and behaviour problems in infants and preschool-age children: a review of the recent literature.
abstract: The behaviour problems of children born preterm at school age are well known, but there have been few studies on the behaviour problems of preterm-born infants during infancy and at preschool age. Fourteen cohort studies published in PubMed and PsycINFO between 2000 and 2012 were reviewed with a focus on the type, occurrence, comorbidity, stability, prediction, perinatal, social, and relational risk factors for behaviour problems of preterm-born children in infancy (0-2y) and at preschool age (3-5y). The relational risk factor was considered in an additional four papers. Very-preterm, very-low-birthweight, and moderately-preterm children, in both age groups, show more behaviour problems than term-born comparison children even after perinatal and social risk factors and cognitive performance have been controlled for. Poor social/interactive skills, poor behavioural and emotional self-regulation, emotional difficulties, and reduced attention are the most common behaviour problems. Behaviour problems in infancy are predictive of later behaviour problems and they should be included in follow-up programmes.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine Services, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arpi
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D047928:Premature Birth; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior