Examination of psychomotor development in relation to social-environmental factors in preterm children at 2 years old

Introduction: The development of children born prematurely is an important aspect in public health, because preterm birth rates are not decreasing with the development of medical sciences. Aim: Description of psychomotor development of preterm children related to potentially influencing environmental factors. Method: Children born below 2.500 grams at the age of two (n = 75). Psychomotor development, quality of home environment, socio-demographic background were measured. Results: Lower birth weight was associated with lower development quotients. Psychomotor development was also negatively affected by child deprivation, low levels of cognitive stimulation and maternal empathy, regardless of birth weight. Increased performance loss was found related to lower sociodemographic variables, such as low maternal education or ethnicity. Conclusion: Psychomotor development of 2-year-old premature children is affected by the examined social-environmental factors. We recommend the screening and developmental interventions for premature children as early as possible, thus preventing difficulties in mental and motor development in the future.