The Early Development of Low-Birthweight Infants: Relationship to Health, Family Status, Family Context, Family Processes, and Parenting

Abstract

This study examines the early development of low birthweight infants and its relationship to five categories of medical and environmental variables: (1) health; (2) family status; (3) family context; (4) family process; and (5) parenting. Results showed that scores on the Bayley Mental Development Index. (MDI) at 18 months were related to all five categories of variables. However, most correlations were only moderate in strength (0.3 to 0.5) and four of the. five categories could be represented by only a single variable within the category. Multiple regression analyses indicated that family context and family process variables were not as highly related to MDI as family status, medical problems, and parenting were. The most efficient prediction of MDI was obtained using a combination of two HOME subscales, variety of stimulation and organisation of the environment, plus the 5-minute APGAR (R = 0.59).