Difference in mother–child interaction between preterm‐ and term‐born preschoolers with and without disabilities

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Abstract
Aim:  To investigate differences in the quality of mother–child interaction between preterm‐ and term‐born children at age 5, and to study the association of mother–child interaction with sociodemographic characteristics and child disability.Methods:  Preterm children (n = 94), born at Results:  Mothers of preterm‐born children were less supportive of and more interfering with their children’s autonomy than mothers of term‐born children. This difference was only partly explained by sociodemographic factors. Dyads showed a lower quality of mother–child interaction if children had a severe disability, especially when mothers had a lower level of education.Conclusion:  Five years after birth, mother–child interaction of very premature children and their mothers compared unfavourably with term children and their mothers. Mothers with sociodemographic disadvantages, raising a preterm child with severe disabilities, struggle most with giving adequate sensitive support for the autonomy development of their child. Focused specialized support for these at risk groups is warranted.

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