BEHAVIORAL-PROBLEMS IN LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT PRESCHOOLERS

Preschool behavior of a population-based sample of 144 5-year-old chil dren with birthweights less than 2000g (LBW) was compared with a rando m sample of 163 normal-birthweight term controls. The Personality inve ntory for Children and the Yale Children's Inventory were completed by the mothers, and child behavior during psychometric testing was asses sed. Nineteen per cant of the LBW children compared to 4% of controls had behavioral problems as defined by abnormal scores on more than thr ee behavioral measures. The LEW children were more often socially inse cure, anxious and difficult to manage, but inattention and hyperactivi ty were not prominent. The LEW children were not more sensitive to the negative impact of parental risk factors than normal-birthweight chil dren.