Abstract

BROOKING, Luciana  and  QUITERIO, Patricia Lorena. NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE IN PRETERM AND FULL-TERM INFANTS: A COMPARATIVE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS. Psicol. clin. [online]. 2025, vol.37, e020.  Epub Dec 08, 2025. ISSN 0103-5665.  https://doi.org/10.33208/pc1980-5438v037e020.

Preterm birth poses risks to biological development and may lead to cognitive, social, and emotional alterations. Neuropsychological tests can offer valuable insights into the developmental functioning of preterm infants during early infancy. This study aimed to examine neuropsychological development in the first year of life by comparing preterm and full-term infants using standardized assessment tools. The sample included 21 preterm infants (assessed using corrected age) and 24 full-term infants. Initial evaluations, at 3 months of age, employed a sociodemographic inventory; the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III), and the Infant Behavior Development Scale in the first year of life (EDCC). Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6, 9, and 12 months. Significant group differences were found on Bayley-III in the following domains: cognitive development at 12 months, expressive language at 9 and 12 months, fine motor skills at 12 months, gross motor skills at 6 months, and social-emotional development at 12 months. Socioeconomic variables, such as household income and participation in social welfare programs, were predictive of fine motor outcomes. Both instruments revealed significant associations across multiple time points and groups. However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between EDCC scores and social-emotional behavior. Overall, the findings are consistent with expected developmental trajectories and support the hypothesized differences between groups. This study is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of developmental consequences of preterm birth and to provide evidence to guide the design of early, targeted intervention programs.

Keywords : premature birth; neuropsychological tests; developmental psychology.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )