Social Withdrawal Behaviour at One Year of Age Is Associated with Delays in Reaching Language Milestones in the EDEN Mother-Child Cohort Study.

Antoine Guedeney,Jean-Baptiste Pingault,Maria De Agostini,Beatrice Larroque,Barbara Heude,Anne Forhan,Olivier Baud

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158426

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to examine the relationship between social withdrawal behaviour at one year and motor and language milestones.Materials and MethodsOne-year old children from the EDEN French population-based birth cohort study (Study on the pre- and postnatal determinants of the child’s development and prospective health Birth Cohort Study) were included. Social withdrawal at one year was assessed by trained midwives using the Alarm Distress BaBy (ADBB) scale. Midwives concurrently examined infants’ motor and language milestones. Parents reported on child’s psychomotor and language milestones, during the interview with the midwife.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounding factors, social withdrawal behaviour was significantly associated with concurrent delays in motor and language milestones assessed by the midwife or the parents.DiscussionHigher scores on social withdrawal behaviour as assessed with the ADBB were associated with delays in reaching language milestones, and to a lesser extent with lower motor ability scores. Taking the contribution of social withdrawal behaviour into account may help understand the unfolding of developmental difficulties in children.

Highlights

A key element in early development is the ability to synchronize communication within the parents-infant triad, during the first 18 months of the infant’s life [1, 2]
After adjusting for potential confounding factors, social withdrawal behaviour was significantly associated with concurrent delays in motor and language milestones assessed by the midwife or the parents
Higher scores on social withdrawal behaviour as assessed with the Alarm Distress BaBy (ADBB) were associated with delays in reaching language milestones, and to a lesser extent with lower motor ability

Summary

Materials and Methods

One-year old children from the EDEN French population-based birth cohort study (Study on the pre- and postnatal determinants of the child’s development and prospective health Birth Cohort Study) were included. Data Availability Statement: The data underlying the findings cannot be made freely available because of ethical and legal restrictions. This is because the present study includes an important number of variables that, together, could be used to re-identify the participants based on a few key characteristics and be used to have access to other personal data. The French ethical authority strictly forbids making such data freely available. They can be obtained upon request from the EDEN steering committee

Discussion

Introduction

Participants

Strengths and limitations