Parental Perception of Child Vulnerability among Mothers of Very Low Birth Weight Infants: Psychological Predictors and Neurodevelopmental Sequelae at 2 Years

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of maternal psychological distress on the development of parental perception of child vulnerability (PPCV) in mothers of VLBW infants; and to examine the impact of PPCV on neurodevelopmental outcome in VLBW infants in the 2(nd) year of life. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 69 mothers and their VLBW infants recruited in 2011-2012 for whom maternal psychological data was collected during the NICU hospitalization. Maternal PPCV was assessed at 4 months corrected age (CA). Neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed at 20 months CA. Regression analyses modeled the development of PPCV and the impact of PPCV on neurodevelopmental outcome. RESULTS: PPCV at 4 months CA was predicted by maternal anxiety and history of previous fetal loss reported during the NICU stay. Higher PPCV at 4 months CA was associated with lower language scores at 20 months CA. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions aimed reducing PPCV in the NICU are supported.