Indicators of problems evaluated by parents and children stratified by birth weight

Abstract

Studies on the impact of birth weight on child development require the participation of children as informants. The objective of this study was to compare the indicators of behavioral problems and depression in a cohort of school-age children stratified by birth weight and to investigate possible associations between the indicators of behavioral problems, evaluated by the parents, and depression, evaluated by the children. A total of 665 children, aged 10-11 years, distributed into five birth-weight groups were evaluated. The parents responded to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the children responded to the Children’s Depression Inventory. It was found that there were: (a) significantly more indicators of hyperactivity and depression in the children born with very low birth weight; (b) associations between the indicators of childhood depression and the indicators of overall behavioral problems in all weight groups evaluated, except for the very low birth weight group. There was good consistency between the ratings of problems by children and parents.