1417 Changes in Mother-Child Interactions in Very Preterm and Fullterm Dyads From Preschool to Middle Childhood

Methods: Changes in dyadic mother-child interactions were investigated in a geographically defined prospective whole-population sample of very preterm and/or very low birth weight children (VLBW/VP; n = 265) and compared to a matched sample of fullterm controls (n = 276).Results: At both 6 and 8 years, VLBW/VP children were less persistent and socially engaging and their mothers behaved less sensitive and more controlling. Differences in maternal behavior between groups disappeared once adjusted for child IQ. The patterns of change over two years in child overall activity, maternal sensitivity and verbal control, as well as harmony of interactions were similar in both groups. However, significant improvements in task persistence and social interaction were found for VLBW/VP children only. Structural equation modeling confirmed that bidirectional influences shaped mother and child behavior development and, specifically, that VLBW/VP child characteristics predicted maternal behavior over time.Conclusions: Mothers of very preterm children are not less sensitive or controlling but their behavior is attuned to the level of cognitive functioning of their children with the aim to facilitate attention regulation and task persistence.