Social behavior of 5 to 7-year-old children at risk as newborn infants with special reference to parental child-rearing behavior
Grichting, C.; Rohrer, H.; Bossi, E.; Lang, A.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 114(22): 788-793
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 6740297 Document Number: 227160
A questionnaire was used to investigate the social behaviour of 168 5-7 year olds, who as neonates had been at risk for developing psychomotor disturbances, and the educational behaviour of their parents. 52 six year olds with an uneventful perinatal period formed the control group. Sociodemographic data did not differ between the two groups. The basic tendency of the children's temperament ( liveliness vs. calmness ) during the first year was similar in both groups. Achievement of developmental milestones (gross motor activity, language, bladder and bowel control) was reached at similar age. The parents' educational behaviour did not differ. The social behaviour of the children at risk, as judged by the inhibited or aggressive behaviour, was also equal to the controls. The psychomotor development of the same population of children had been found to be normal in most cases at age 3-42 (mean 15) months ( Schweiz . med. Wschr . 109, 215 [1979]). According to the present study, this risk population of newborns also showed normal social behaviour.