RESUMEN
BACKGROUNG: Children born preterm are at high risk for behavior problems at different ages. To better understand these problems, we examine the predictive biopsychosocial variables OBJECTIVE: To examine the predictive effects of neonatal clinical status and the temperament of the children and mothers on the behavior problems of children born preterm. : Longitudinal predictive study METHODS: The sample was composed of 40 children born preterm at 18 to 36 months of age and their mothers. The temperament of the children was assessed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire, which comprises the negative affect, extroversion and effortful control factors and their domains. Behaviors were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist 1 ½-5 (total, internalized, and externalized problems scores and classifications). The temperament of the mothers was assessed using the Adult Temperament Questionnaire. All instruments were applied through interviews with mothers. Descriptive and the hierarchical multiple linear regression statistical analyses were performed. The level of significance adopted in the study was p ≤ 0.05 RESULTS: The prediction analysis revealed that the internalized behavior problems were explained significantly by children's temperaments with more fear (negative affect) and less by mothers' temperament with inhibitory control (effortful control factor). The externalized behavior problems were explained significantly by greater time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit, less effortful control of children's temperament and less mothers` temperament inhibitory control CONCLUSION: The behavior problems of children at toddlerhood who were born preterm were explained by high neonatal clinical risk as well as by the temperament dispositional traits of both the children and the mothers
RESUMEN
O temperamento é uma variável da pessoa que interage com variáveis ambientais e pode influenciar trajetórias de desenvolvimento de crianças. Estudos sobre o desenvolvimento emocional e social têm destacado a importância do temperamento como uma variável que influencia fundamentalmente o ajustamento saudável do indivíduo. O presente estudo teve por objetivo revisar de forma sistemática estudos empíricos, publicados de 2007 a 2012, sobre o tema temperamento e suas relações com problemas emocionais e de comportamento em crianças na fase pré-escolar. Foram selecionados sistematicamente dezoito estudos empíricos indexados nas bases de dados PubMed, PsycINFO e Scielo. Os resultados dos estudos evidenciaram, predominantemente, relações diretas entre fatores do temperamento e os tipos específicos de problemas emocionais e de comportamento internalizantes e externalizantes, em crianças na fase pré-escolar. O temperamento com traços de retraimento, timidez e medo mostrou associação com problemas internalizantes, enquanto o temperamento do tipo difícil ou com falta de controle inibitório comportamental mostrou associação com problemas externalizantes. Além disso, verificou-se que variáveis da criança do tipo nascimento prematuro, transtorno do autismo e alto nível de cortisol salivar, assim como variáveis de risco psicossocial do tipo baixo nível socioeconômico e depressão materna, foram fatores moderadores das relações entre os traços de temperamento e problemas de comportamento.
Temperament is a variable of the person who interacts with environmental variables, and can influence children's developmental trajectories. Studies on emotional and social development have highlighted the relevance of temperament as a variable that fundamentally influence the adjustment healthy individual. The aim of the present study was to systematically review empirical studies, published from 2007 to 2012, on the temperament and its relationship with emotional and behavioral problems in children in pre-school age. We selected 18 empirical studies indexed in PubMed, PsycINFO and Scielo data. The results showed, predominantly, direct associations between temperament factors and specific types of emotional and internalized and externalized behavior problems, in pre-school children. The temperament with withdrawal symptoms, shyness and fear traits were associated with internalized problems. Otherwise, the temperament with dificulty trait and without behavior innhibitory control showed associations with externalized problems. In addition, child variables, as pre-term birth, autism disorder, and high level of salivary cortisol, and psychosocial risk variables, as low socio-economic level and maternal depression, were moderator factors of the relationships between temperament traits and behavior problems.
El temperamento es una variable de la persona que interactúa con variables ambientales y puede influir en las trayectorias de desarrollo de los niños. Estudios sobre el desarrollo emocional y social han puesto de relieve la importancia del temperamento como una variable que influye principalmente en el ajuste sano del individuo. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo realizar una revisión sistemática de estudios empíricos publicados de 2007 a 2012, sobre el tema de temperamento y de sus relaciones con los problemas emocionales y de comportamiento en los niños en edad preescolar. Fueron seleccionados sistemáticamente 18 estudios empíricos indizados en las bases de datos PubMed, PsycINFO y SciELO. Los resultados de los estudios mostraron, predominantemente, relaciones directas entre factores de temperamento y tipos específicos de problemas emocionales y de comportamientos de internalización y externalización, en niños en edad preescolar. El temperamento con rasgos de retraimiento, timidez y miedo señaló asociación con problemas de internalización, mientras que el temperamento del tipo difícil o con falta de control inhibitorio de comportamiento señaló asociación con problemas de externalización. Además, se verificó que las variables del niño, como nacimiento prematuro; trastorno del autismo y alto nivel de cortisol salival, así como las variables de riesgo psicosocial, del bajo nivel socioeconómico y depresión materna fueron factores moderadores de las relaciones entre los rasgos de temperamento y problemas de comportamiento.