INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS WITH PR EMATURE-INFANTS - A CRITICAL-REVIEW

After some introductory remarks on the influence of psychosocial risk factors on the developmental outcome of premature infants this review summarizes the current knowledge about intervention programs for prema tures and their parents with a special focus on parent-centered progra ms. Positive effects of intervention programs are found in an improvem ent of cognitive development, parental sensitivity and the home enviro nment. Only parent-centered interventions enhanced the quality of pare nt-infant interaction. It is questioned if those effects are also reli able for very premature infants and are found in the long term. Furthe r programs should focus on parent- and parent-infant centered interven tions. Methodological problems of intervention studies and further res earch perspectives on parent-centered interventions are discussed.