Developmental outcomes in low birth weight infants: Influence of birth weight, maternal education and depression, and quality of home environment

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship among selected environmental and perinatal variables and developmental outcomes in a group of low birth weight infants. A total of thirty infants and mothers were studied. Maternal education level (r =.36, p =.05), paternal education level (r =.44, p =.02), and five minute Apgar score (r =.42, p =.03) were significantly correlated to the quality of home environment; which predicted 28% of the variance in infant developmental status. The perinatal factors of birth weight (r = -.47, p =.01); mechanical ventilation (r =.40, p =.03); Respiratory Distress Syndrome (r =.53, p =.003); and estimated gestational age (r = -.53, p =.003) were correlated to level of maternal depressive symptoms. The relationship between level of maternal depressive symptoms and infant development approached significance (r = -.35, p =.058). These findings support the hypothesis that quality of home environment is a predictor of development for high risk infants.