title: Behavioral and socioemotional competence problems of extremely low birth weight children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine behavioral and social-emotional problems in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children and to assess factors associated with behavioral and social competency outcomes at 30 to 36 months adjusted age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 696 ELBW (401 to 1000 g) children from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network were included. Behavioral and social-emotional problems were assessed using the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment administered to parents. Unadjusted comparisons were performed between children with or without behavioral or social-emotional problems. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with behavioral outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents reported behavioral problems in 46.8%, deficits in social-emotional competence in 20.4% and having both behavioral and social-emotional competence problems in 15.4% of ELBW children. Characteristics associated with behavioral problems in logistic regression included female gender, lower household income and a Bayley Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI)<70. Deficits in social competence were associated with Bayley Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and PDI scores<70 and Hispanic or Other races compared with White non-Hispanic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Half of the (51.9%) ELBW children showed behavioral or social-emotional competence problems at 30 months. Low socioeconomic status and low Bayley MDI and PDI scores were associated with behavioral and socioemotional difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peralta-Carcelen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rector
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gantz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior