title: Preterm infant's early crying associated with child's behavioral problems and parents' stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study how the early crying behavior of preterm infants at term, 6 weeks, and 5 months of corrected age is related to later behavioral problems at age 3 and 4 years and parenting stress at 2 and 4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 202 live-born, low birth weight infants (birth weight ≤1500 g) born from January 2001 through December 2006 at the Turku University Hospital, Finland. A Baby Day Diary was used to assess the preterm infants' crying behavior at term, 6 weeks, and 5 months of corrected age. The children's behavior was assessed using the Child Behavior Check List at 3 and 4 years old, and parenting stress was assessed by using the Parenting Stress Index when the child was 2 and 4 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration and frequency of crying bouts in infancy was associated with Child Behavior Check List scores at 4 years old and to both mothers' and fathers' stress when the child was 2 and 4 years old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early excessive crying, especially if lasting up to 5 months of corrected age, is a clinically relevant signal in preterm infants because it may reflect infants' regulatory problems and/or parenting stress. The crying behavior of preterm infants should be systematically inquired about at well-baby clinics.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Child Psychiatry.
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korja
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Jonna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maunu
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rautava
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haataja
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lapinleimu
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: behavior; crying; parenting stress; preterm infant