Distinct Profiles of Attention in Children Born Moderate-to-Late Preterm at 6 Years
Open Access
- 1 July 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Pediatric Psychology
- Vol. 45 (6), 685-694
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa038
Abstract
Objective Attention difficulties are commonly reported by caregivers in school-aged children born moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT; 32-36 weeks' gestation). We aimed to assess distinct aspects of attentional functioning (i.e. orienting, alerting and executive attention, processing speed and behavioral components) in children born MLPT and full term (FT), profiles of attentional functioning, and associated risk factors such as preterm birth. Methods Participants were 170 (87 MLPT and 83 FT) children, evaluated on cognitive and behavioral attention aspects at 6 years of age. We used a variable-centered approach to compare attentional functioning of children born MLPT and FT at group level, and a person-centered approach to identify profiles of attentional functioning. Neonatal and demographic characteristics of these profiles were compared. Results The variable-centered approach showed that at group level children born MLPT had poorer orienting attention and processing speed, and behavioral attention than children born FT. The person-centered approach revealed four profiles: (a) normal attentional functioning, (b) overall poorer attention, (c) poorer cognitive attention, and (d) behavioral attention problems. Children born MLPT were overrepresented in each of the suboptimal attention profiles, and were more dispersed across profiles than children born FT. Conclusions Children born MLPT are at increased risk of difficulties in some attention aspects, but at group level differences with children born FT are small. However, children born MLPT show considerable variation in the nature of attention difficulties and are twice as likely to show a suboptimal attention profile, indicating a cumulation of poorer attention scores.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- Functioning of 7-Year-Old Children Born at 32 to 35 Weeks’ Gestational AgePublished by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ,2012
- The Attention System of the Human Brain: 20 Years AfterAnnual Review of Neuroscience, 2012
- National, regional, and worldwide estimates of preterm birth rates in the year 2010 with time trends since 1990 for selected countries: a systematic analysis and implicationsThe Lancet, 2012
- Attention Problems in a Representative Sample of Extremely Preterm/Extremely Low Birth Weight ChildrenDevelopmental Neuropsychology, 2011
- Late-Preterm Birth and Its Association With Cognitive and Socioemotional Outcomes at 6 Years of AgePediatrics, 2010
- Missing Data Analysis: Making It Work in the Real WorldAnnual Review of Psychology, 2009
- Selective and Sustained Attention as Predictors of Social Problems in Children With Typical and Disordered Attention AbilitiesJournal of Attention Disorders, 2008
- Early Precursors of Low Attention and Hyperactivity in a Preterm Sample at Age FourIssues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 2005
- Memory and Processing Speed in Preterm Children at Eleven Years: A Comparison with Full-TermsChild Development, 1996
- Analysis of the elements of attention: A neuropsychological approachNeuropsychology Review, 1991