De relatie tussen kwetsbaarheid van het kind in de ogen van de ouders en inhibitie en werkgeheugen bij te vroeg en op tijd geboren kinderen

Abstract

This study was set up to examine to what extend the parental perception of child vulnerability relates to the cognitive development of the child, specifically inhibition and working memory and whether this association is moderated by whether a child is prematurely born or not. Data in this study is collected using an online survey named ‘Born too soon’. Cognitive aspects were measured by using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and the parental perception of child vulnerability was measured by using the Vulnerable Child Scale. This study included 214 parents (103 term and 111 preterm born children). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether the association between a high level of child vulnerability and al low level of inhibition/working memory is stronger for premature children. First the results suggested that a high parental perception of child vulnerability was related to working memory. Second, prematurity was related to more working memory problems. There was no difference between preterm and term born children for inhibition. Finally, the results showed that neither working memory nor inhibition in relation to vulnerability were moderated by prematurity. The results found for working memory and vulnerability were in agreement with the results from earlier research in children. The results found for inhibition and vulnerability were inconsistent with the results from earlier research.