RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Maternal age has progressively increased in industrialized countries. Most studies focus on the consequences of delayed motherhood for women's physical and mental health, but little is known about potential effects on infants' neurodevelopment. This prospective study examines the association between maternal age and offspring neurodevelopment in terms of both psychomotor development (Ages & Stages Questionnaires-3) and emotional competences (Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire). METHODS: We evaluated a cohort of healthy pregnant women aged 20-41 years and their offspring, assessed at 38 weeks gestation (n = 131) and 24 months after birth (n = 101). Potential age-related variables were considered (paternal age, education level, parity, social support, maternal cortisol levels, and maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms). Bayesian ordinal regression models were performed for each neurodevelopmental outcome. RESULTS: Maternal age was negatively associated with poor child development in terms of personal-social skills [odds ratio (OR) -0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-0.99] and with difficult temperament in terms of worse emotional regulation (OR -0.13, 95% CI 0.78-0.96) and lower positive affect (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.75-0.95). As for age-related variables, whereas maternal anxiety symptoms and cortisol levels were also correlated with poor child development and difficult temperament, maternal social support and parental educational level were associated with better psychomotor and emotional competences. CONCLUSION: Increasing maternal age may be associated with child temperament difficulties and psychomotor delay in terms of social interaction skills. Early detection of neurodevelopment difficulties in these babies would allow preventive psychosocial interventions to avoid future neuropsychiatric disorders.
RESUMEN
El presente estudio examina la relación entre la sensibilidad materna y la presencia de síntomas psicosomáticos en niños de 18 meses de edad (N = 102), de los cuales el 40,2 % eran prematuros sin signos de riesgo. Los resultados indican que los niños prematuros muestran mayor probabilidad de presentar síntomas psicosomáticos relacionados con la alimentación y el sueño. Se observa que, especialmente en los casos de prematuridad, la sensibilidad materna puede funcionar como un factor protector ante estas alteraciones. Estos hallazgos muestran la importancia de considerar el funcionamiento diádico en la intervención de la sintomatología psicosomática en la primera infancia. Hacia una comprensión integradora del autismo
The present study examines the relationship between maternal sensitivity and the presence of psychosomatic symptoms in children of 18 months of age (N = 102), including 40,2 % preterm infants with no risk signs. The results indicate that preterm children show a greater probability of psychosomatic symptoms related to feeding and sleep disorders. Especially, in cases of prematurity it is observed that maternal sensitivity can function as a protective factor against these alterations. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the dyadic functioning in the intervention of psychosomatic symptoms in early childhood
El present estudi examina la relació entre la sensibilitat materna i la presència de símptomes psicosomàtics en nens de 18 mesos dedat (N = 102), el 40,2 % dels quals eren prematurs sense signes de risc. Els resultats indiquen que els nens prematurs mostren més probabilitat de presentar símptomes psicosomàtics relacionats amb lalimentació i la son. Sobserva que, especialment en els casos de prematuritat, la sensibilitat materna pot funcionar com un factor protector davant daquestes alteracions. Aquestes troballes mostren la importància de considerar el funcionament diàdic en la intervenció de la simptomatologia psicosomàtica en la primera infància