The Longitudinal Impact of Early Relational Contact in the NICU and the Post-Discharge Childcare Quality on Preterm Infants' Behavioural Development up to 18-24 Months of Corrected Age
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| Title: | The Longitudinal Impact of Early Relational Contact in the NICU and the Post-Discharge Childcare Quality on Preterm Infants' Behavioural Development up to 18-24 Months of Corrected Age |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Weizi Wu (ORCID |
| Source: | Infant and Child Development. 2026 35(2). |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 10 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) (DHHS/NIH) |
| Contract Number: | R01NR016928 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Premature Infants, Behavior Development, Child Care, Family Relationship, Toddlers, Child Development, Interpersonal Competence |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development |
| DOI: | 10.1002/icd.70090 |
| ISSN: | 1522-7227 1522-7219 |
| Abstract: | To evaluate the associations between parental/family early relational contact in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the post-discharge childcare quality and behavioural development up to 18-24 months of corrected age (CA). In a longitudinal cohort study (2017-2022), 215 preterm infants were followed. Early relational NICU contact (minutes/day) was measured daily using a 12-item observational checklist. Post-discharge childcare quality was assessed at 18-24 months with the Index of Child Care Environment (ICCE). Behavioural development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III and the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Multiple regression models examined the associations between these key variables, adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders. The cohort was predominantly male (57.67%), non-Hispanic (74.88%) and White (67.44%), with an average gestational age of 28.3 weeks. At 18-24-month CA, greater early skin-to-skin/soothing contact was linked to better language development (β = 0.33, p = 0.032), and integrated nurturing contact (characterised by holding combined with verbal interaction) was associated with better language and motor development in female infants (p's < 0.05); strong social support for caregivers was associated with infants' improved cognitive (β = 0.364, p = 0.018), language (β = 0.383, p = 0.008) and motor (β = 0.382, p = 0.015) outcomes. Infants with typical social-emotional competence received higher levels of human stimulation from their caregivers compared with those showing possible competence issues (OR = 1.439, p = 0.020). Greater early NICU contact and higher post-discharge childcare quality are associated with improved developmental outcomes in preterm infants at 18-24 months CA, showing the growing importance of environmental factors in infants' development. Future studies should explore targeted interventions that enhance early bonding and empower parents to support sustained developmental progress. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503832 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | To evaluate the associations between parental/family early relational contact in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the post-discharge childcare quality and behavioural development up to 18-24 months of corrected age (CA). In a longitudinal cohort study (2017-2022), 215 preterm infants were followed. Early relational NICU contact (minutes/day) was measured daily using a 12-item observational checklist. Post-discharge childcare quality was assessed at 18-24 months with the Index of Child Care Environment (ICCE). Behavioural development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III and the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Multiple regression models examined the associations between these key variables, adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders. The cohort was predominantly male (57.67%), non-Hispanic (74.88%) and White (67.44%), with an average gestational age of 28.3 weeks. At 18-24-month CA, greater early skin-to-skin/soothing contact was linked to better language development (β = 0.33, p = 0.032), and integrated nurturing contact (characterised by holding combined with verbal interaction) was associated with better language and motor development in female infants (p's < 0.05); strong social support for caregivers was associated with infants' improved cognitive (β = 0.364, p = 0.018), language (β = 0.383, p = 0.008) and motor (β = 0.382, p = 0.015) outcomes. Infants with typical social-emotional competence received higher levels of human stimulation from their caregivers compared with those showing possible competence issues (OR = 1.439, p = 0.020). Greater early NICU contact and higher post-discharge childcare quality are associated with improved developmental outcomes in preterm infants at 18-24 months CA, showing the growing importance of environmental factors in infants' development. Future studies should explore targeted interventions that enhance early bonding and empower parents to support sustained developmental progress. |
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| ISSN: | 1522-7227 1522-7219 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/icd.70090 |
