BEHAVIORAL-CHARACTERISTICS OF PRETERM INF ANTS - AN INVESTIGATION OF INFANT TEMPERAMENT

In a two-point longitudinal study we compared preterm and fullterm inf ants with respect to certain behaviour patterns known as ''infant temp erament''. Interdependencies between depression and childrearing attit udes of the mothers and temperamental characteristics of infants are a nalysed. Investigations took place after birth and four months (correc ted age) later and comprised, among other questionnairies, a new Germa n temperament assessment scale as well as clinical data. Our results s how that, independent of their depression and childrearing attitudes, mothers of preterm infants describe their babies as showing much less positive emotions and having far more problems in being soothed. In bo th groups the baby's positive reactions and soothability was related t o the extent of its mother's motivation to stimulate the baby and care for it. However, showing many negative emotions cannot sufficiently b e explained by prematurity and certain mother characteristics at time of birth.