early childhood education; fluid reasoning/cognition; Language/Cognitive deficits; premature children; vulnerability; Health (social science); Developmental and Educational Psychology; Sociology and Political Science
Abstract :
[en] Low birthweight (<2500 g), associated with low socioeconomic status, has a negative effect on cognition and development. This is especially true for fluid intelligence and language. This study aimed to examine and identify (1) fluid intelligence and language in low- and adequate-birthweight children in a low-income Brazilian neighborhood and (2) the environmental factors that could account for potential group differences. There were 100 children participated in the study, of whom 53 had low birthweight and 47 had adequate birthweight. The children completed a battery of tests for fluid cognition and language. Their socioeconomic background and home environment were explored through a caregiver questionnaire. The results indicated significant group differences in fluid intelligence but not in language. Environmental factors partially explained the results. The variables ‘years of preschool’ and ‘number of learning games/books’ predicted better test results. Furthermore, the children underperformed in naming speed but not in accuracy, and the low-birthweight children also underperformed in fluid intelligence. It is concluded that environmental factors affect both birthweight groups and may compromise child development.
Disciplines :
Treatment & clinical psychology
Author, co-author :
Pacheco, Maria de Jesus Torres; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Gonçalves, Héron Máximo da Cunha; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Ribeiro, Talyta Garcia da Silva; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Gonçalves, Tárcia Heliny Nojoza Mendonça; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Pacheco, Marcone Barbosa; State Secretary of Health of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Ribeiro, Marizélia Rodrigues Costa; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Ribeiro, Larah Bogea; Center of Human Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Carvalho, Amanda Pereira; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Cabral, Júlia Lima; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Artoni, Leonardo Gonçalves; Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
Vantini, Maria Augusta Braghin; Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
Tomás, Rute Carina Cordeiro; Language and Cognitive Development Group, University of Luxembourg, Belval, Luxembourg
ENGEL DE ABREU, Pascale ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Humanities (DHUM) > Multilingualism
Laurence, Paulo Guirro ; Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
Macedo, Elizeu Coutinho; Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Funding text :
This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico: [Grant Number 309453/2011-9], Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Université du Luxembourg. We are grateful for the help of Maria de Fátima Costa Lobão (NEVE-UFMA), Silvanilde Severiano de Carvalho (São Luis Epidemiological Superintendence) and Community Health Agents of the Family Health Strategy (ESF - Vila Embratel). This study was supported by CAPES and CNPq (grant number: 309453/2011-9) and University of Luxembourg supported RCC Tomás’ research visit in Brazil.
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