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Origins and predictors of friendships in 6- to 8-year-old children born at neonatal risk

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Heuser, Katharina M., Jaekel, Julia and Wolke, Dieter (2018) Origins and predictors of friendships in 6- to 8-year-old children born at neonatal risk. The Journal of Pediatrics, 193 . 93-101.e5. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.09.072

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.09.072

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Abstract

Objective
To test effects of gestational age (GA), early social experiences, and child characteristics on children's friendships and perceived peer acceptance.

Study design
As part of the prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study (1147 children, 25-41 weeks GA), children's friendships (eg, number of friends, frequency of meeting friends) and perceived peer acceptance were assessed before school entry (6 years of age) and in second grade (8 years of age) using child and parent reports. The parent–infant relationship was evaluated during the 5 months after birth. Child characteristics (ie, height, motor impairment, cognitive ability, behavioral problems) were measured at 6 years of age. Multiple regressions estimated effects of GA, parent–infant relationship, and child characteristics.

Results
Overall, children with higher GA had more friends, spent more time with friends, and were more accepted by peers at 6 years of age. Better parent–infant relationships, higher cognitive abilities, and fewer motor and behavioral problems predicted more friendships and higher peer acceptance after adjusting for sex, socioeconomic status, multiples, siblings, and special schooling. Across all GA groups, number of friends (child report: mean change, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.57-1.96) and peer acceptance (child report: mean change, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.09-0.19; parent report: mean change, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.11-0.17) increased with age, but the increase in number of friends was higher among preterm children (ie, interaction effect age*GA group: P = .034).

Conclusions
Our results provide evidence of a dose–response effect of low GA on children's friendships and perceived peer acceptance. Improvements in early parenting and motor, cognitive, and behavioral development may facilitate friendships and peer acceptance for all children across the gestation spectrum.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Newborn infants , Newborn infants--Development, Newborn infants--Psychology, Newborn infants--Social aspects, Premature infants, Children--Conduct of life
Journal or Publication Title: The Journal of Pediatrics
Publisher: Mosby, Inc.
ISSN: 0022-3476
Official Date: February 2018
Dates:
DateEvent
February 2018Published
11 December 2017Available
27 November 2017Accepted
Volume: 193
Page Range: 93-101.e5
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.09.072
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder: Germany. Bundesministerium für Bildung und Wissenschaft [Ministry of Education and Science]
Grant number: BMBF; PKE24, JUG14
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
733280Horizon 2020 Framework Programmehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010661
RECAPHorizon 2020 Framework Programmehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010661

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