Objective Parenting anxiety has been highlighted recently because it tends to be a problem of mother-child relationships and a factor in child maltreatment. Compared to mothers of singletons, it is ...reported that mothers of twins experience a greater physical and mental burden of parenting. This study aims to investigate whether mothers of twins have more parenting anxiety than those of singletons and whether parenting anxiety affects child's mental development in both twin and singleton groups. Methods 218 mothers of 0 to 2-year-old twins were recruited at seventeen organizations for twin rearing in Kinki area, western Japan, from March to May 2005. Questionnaires were mailed or handed out to the mothers. In all, 124 mothers of twins (56.9%) returned the questionnaires. 5 data sets were excluded because of twins' cerebral paralysis or other reasons and 119 data sets (96.0%) were analyzed. A total of 348 mothers of singletons were collected at four preschools and two public health centers in the same area from March 2005 to March 2006. Questionnaires were mailed or handed out and were returned by 101 mothers (28.1%). 4 data sets were excluded because of the presence of twins or over age children and 97 data sets (96.0%) were analyzed. The core questionnaires included the JCFRI Child Rearing Support Questionnaire for measurement of parenting anxiety and the Tsumori-Inage Infant Developmental Scale. Results 1. Compared to their counterparts with singletons, mothers of twins showed significantly higher scores for parenting anxiety, including general confusion of parenting and negative feelings toward their children. 2. On multiple logistic regression analysis, high parenting anxiety in mothers of 2-year-old twins, especially negative feelings were related to delay in the children's mental development. However, there was no significant relationship with twins aged 0 or 1 year and with singletons of 0 to 2 years of age. Conclusions The results suggest that negative feelings toward children influence mother-child interactions and complicate relationships. Parenting anxiety is a severe problem in mothers of twins not only because it causes mental problems in mothers but also because it has an impact on child mental development.
The psychomotor development of 171 preterm very‐low‐birthweight (VLBW) infants (birthweight ≤1500 g) at 10 months of corrected age was assessed by the Griffiths' Mental Developmental Scale. The ...developmental score was related to the prenatal and obstetric risk factors and to the neonatal health status of each infant. These results, in turn, were compared to findings for a reference group of full‐term infants. This analysis revealed that prolonged ventilator treatment, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, brain haemorrhage with ventricle dilatation, white matter lesions, low birthweight and low gestational age influenced psychomotor development in an unfavourable manner. Multiple regression analysis confirmed most of these correlations. Preterm birth per se (when children with risk factors were excluded) in general had no significant effect on psychomotor development. However, the early development of preterm infants with several neonatal risk factors was adversely affected.
RESUMEN: Este estudio ofrece un análisis de la evidencia de validez y confiabilidad para el uso de TADI, según los estándares internacionales, en infantes y niños chilenos con síndrome de Down (SD). ...Participaron 48 niños de Santiago, La Calera y Rancagua, incorporados tras muestreo no-probabilístico, con diagnóstico médico confirmado de SD y sus pares con desarrollo típico, pareados por edad cronológica (M = 4,79, DE = 1,7 años), seleccionados de manera aleatoria desde la base de datos ELPI (2013). Se analiza la evidencia de confiabilidad, vía análisis de consistencia de interna, así como la evidencia de validez de contenido, de estructura y por relación con otras variables. Para la medición fueron utilizados el Test de Aprendizaje y Desarrollo Infantil (TADI), la Escala Wechsler de Inteligencia, tercera edición-versión chilena (WISC-IIIv.ch.), el Leiter International Performance Scale, cuestionario socioeconómico y cuestionario sobre características de la condición médica. Los resultados sugieren una consistencia interna apropiada, la evidencia de validez indica que el contenido de la prueba es apropiado, no se registran efectos techo ni piso, hay diferencias en la estructura interna registrada en el grupo de SD y una adecuada relación con variables de criterio externo. Los profesionales requieren criterio para el uso de esta prueba en la muestra de interés y futuros estudios deberán ampliar los resultados presentados.
In a long-term prospective study, 46 unselected infants born before 35 completed weeks of gestation were compared with 26 full-term infants. At four years of age, 44 preterms and 25 full-terms were ...available to follow-up. The preterms were somewhat shorter in stature and lighter in weight than the full-terms but fell well within the normal range for Swedish children. Head circumference in the preterm group was significantly correlated to neurological development. Psychometric evaluation with Griffiths' mental developmental scale showed the preterms to fall within the normal range, though their performance was inferior to that of the full-terms. The greatest differences between the groups were in scores for the subscales eye and hand coordination, performance, and practical reasoning. There was no correlation within the preterm group between the test results and birthweight, gestational age, prenatal score, perinatal score, or parental social status or education. Language development was delayed among the preterms, more of whom required speech therapy. Visual and hearing disorders were more common among preterms than expected. Although they were all in good health, more preterms than full-terms needed hospital care during the first four years of life.
A developmental scale for symbolic functions in early childhood is proposed. Based on the constituents of manipulative plays, developmental levels are hypothesized as follows: Level 0-no ...symbolization, where children use a thing according to its physica l property; Level 1-symbolization of action, where children use things in the conve ntional manner even in the play setting; Level 2-symbolization of object and action, where children use a thing or doll to stand for another thing or person which is the object or recipient of action; Level 3-symbolization of action, object, and agent, where the agent of action is represented by a doll or the child himself. Five children ranging in age from 9 to 28 months old were observed once a month for 17 months in the play setting with toys and everyday objects provided. The above hypothetical stages were verified except in level 3 since the behaviors expected from the scale did not occur in this age range. Clear distinctions emerged in the age bracket at levels 0, 1, 2.
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