Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about how contributing factors of development change during early childhood in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that contributed to the developmental attainment of children between 9 and 18 months of age using prospective longitudinal data from a developmental cohort study.MethodsWe used data from observations at 3 time points (at infant age of 4, 9 and 18 months) in the Japan Children’s Study. Mothers were administered questionnaires that requested information about their child’s perinatal outcomes, temperament, family structure, family income, parental education, parenting stress, and child-rearing environment at home. At 9 and 18 months, mothers completed the Kinder Infant Development Scale to evaluate their child’s development.ResultsA total of 284 children were available for analysis. Female children and children having siblings had higher probability of attaining developmental norms at 18 months than male and only children. Birth weight, gestational age, and temperament were associated with development at 9 months, but the effects of gestational age and temperament on development disappeared at 18 months. Stimulation from the mother at 9 months was not only related to development at that age but also promoted development at 18 months.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the role of family environmental factors such as early mother’s stimulation and sibling’s existence in development during early childhood might become more important as the child gets older.
Highlights
Many risk factors have been implicated in the etiology of developmental impairment in young children, including biological, social, and environmental influences.[1,2] biological risks are important determinants of all domains of development, psychosocial risks can adversely affect cognitive and social–emotional competence
The other family environmental factors, comprising family type, maternal education, family income, family function, and maternal parenting stress, were not related to development at either time point. This prospective longitudinal study examined factors contributing to development at 9 and 18 months of age and investigated how these factors changed between these time points
The results demonstrated that in addition to the child’s biological factors, the child’s persistency and cognitive stimulation from the mother were significantly associated with developmental attainment at 9 months
Summary
Many risk factors have been implicated in the etiology of developmental impairment in young children, including biological, social, and environmental influences.[1,2] biological risks are important determinants of all domains of development, psychosocial risks can adversely affect cognitive and social–emotional competence. The quality of early childhood care has a clear biological impact on the developing brain and has long-term implications on the child’s development and psychological health.[3] The Committee on Integrating the Science of Child Development[4] asserted that the first few years of life are important because vital development occurs in all domains. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of parenting activities, parental psychological stability, and socio-economic factors in a child’s developmental attainment.[7,8] The family provides the significant care and stimulation required for the child’s growth and development, especially during early childhood. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the role of family environmental factors such as early mother’s stimulation and sibling’s existence in development during early childhood might become more important as the child gets older
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