Sociaal-emotionele problemen van te vroeggeboren kinderen: Relaties met prematuriteitsstereotypen en overbescherming van ouders

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of parental overprotection on the association between parental prematurity stereotypes and social-emotional problems of preterm-born children. Method: For the assessment of parental prematurity stereotypes an implicit association test [IAT] was used. Also, the Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire [CGPQ] and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ] were used to measure overprotection and social-emotional problems. A total of 47 parents, with 6-year-olds born preterm, participated. Results: There is no significant association between parental prematurity stereotypes and social-emotional problems of children who were born preterm. Also, overprotection of parents did not mediate this relationship. Conclusion: Parental prematurity stereotypes as well as overprotection play no role in the development of social-emotional problems of preterm born children. It is possible that other variables such as the gestational age play a bigger role in this relationship. Therefore, more research is needed.