Neonatal behavioural profile and crying in premature infants at term age

Abstract

To analyse behavioural characteristics of infants who cried more versus those who cried less, in a sample of low-risk premature infants. Participants were 63 low-risk healthy premature infants. At term age, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered, and a 1-d diary for crying was recorded starting on the following day. Infants were categorized into two groups: those with "high level of crying" (> or = 75th percentile) and those with "less crying" (< 75th percentile), based on the total amount of crying time. Some individual NBAS scores and "habituation" and "regulation of state" cluster scores were lower in the high-level-of-crying group. Infants in the group with a high level of crying had lower thresholds for response in the "peak of excitement", "rapidity of build-up", "irritability" and "general irritability" items. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower "habituation" and "regulation of state" cluster scores were significantly associated with lower thresholds for crying. These results suggest that neonatal behavioural characteristics, such as hyperresponsivity and poor state regulation, are associated with high levels of crying. Clinical assessments based on the NBAS may help parents elucidate their infant's level of tolerance for stimuli, and identify strategies to minimize their crying.