Impact of caretaker stress on behavioral adjustment of very low birth weight preschool children.

The impact of caretaker daily stress and life strain on the behavioral adjustment of very low birth weight (VLBW less than or equal to 1,500 grams) preschool children was investigated; the degree to which the caregiving environment contributes to the effects of caretaker stress on child outcome was also explored. Subjects were 39 VLBW children (mean birth weight = 1,208 grams) and their primary caretakers, the majority of whom were their biological mothers. Data on caretaker stress and life strain, the caregiving environment, and child behavior were gathered when the children were 60 months of age. The impact of caretaker daily stress and life strain on VLBW child adjustment was moderate and similar to that of normal birth weight (NBW) children. The impact of caretaker stress appeared to be affected by the quality of the caregiving environment. Analysis showed that more behavior problems were found in VLBW 5-year-olds than expected in the general preschool population. Caretakers of VLBW 5-year-olds experienced more intense daily stress than those of NBW children.