Social-Emotional Development and Associated Risk Factors in Chinese Toddlers with Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the social-emotional behaviors of Chinese toddlers with cerebral palsy and to identify the risk factors associated with these behaviors. METHODS: A total of 300 Chinese toddlers and their parents were recruited in this study. A Chinese version of the Infant-Toddler Social-Emotional Assessment was used to assess the children and basic information and clinical data were collected using an author-designed questionnaire. The patients were also assessed using a coping style questionnaire and the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The scores of the externalizing and competence domains for Chinese toddlers with cerebral palsy at different ages were lower compared to healthy children of the same age and gender (p<0.05). For the boys with cerebral palsy aged between 12–17 and 18–23 months, the scores of the internalizing and dysregulation domains were significantly lower compared to the national normal (p<0.01). The effect of perinatal factors on the externalizing and competence domains was more significant compared to other domains, whilst the coping style of the parents significantly affected the dysregulation domain (p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the parental emotional state, education level, coping style and perinatal factors were closely associated with the social-emotional problems of children with cerebral palsy. CONCLUSION: Children with cerebral palsy are more likely to have behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric issues that are mostly ignored. These children may benefit from early screening and intervention for risk factors to improve rehabilitation and long-term prognosis.