Evaluation of the social skills of low birthweight infants using the Interaction Rating Scale

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine, using the Interaction Rating Scale, the effect of social skills at 18 months of life on the subsequent development of low birthweight infants. [Participants and Methods] The study participants were made up of a total of 23 infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Hospital A and whose developmental indexes were followed up at the outpatient clinic for up to 3 years of age. The survey was conducted twice in each infant, at a corrected age of 18 months and at 36 full months of age. Social skills and developmental indexes were assessed at the corrected age of 18 months, meanwhile only developmental indexes were assessed at 36 full months, to examine associations. The Interaction Rating Scale was used to assess social skills. This scale measures various aspects of social development by observing caregiver-child interactions in situations wherein children are engaged in tasks more difficult for their age. [Results] The results demonstrated that social skills at 18 months were associated with the developmental indexes at 18 and 36 months, whereas more items were associated with the developmental index at 36 months. [Conclusion] The results indicate the need for early prediction of developmental delay and timely intervention, by assessing social skills in low birthweight infants.