Off-campus WSU users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your WSU access ID and password, then click the "Off-campus Download" button below.

Non-WSU users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.

Access Type

WSU Access

Date of Award

January 2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Sarah Raz

Abstract

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), or failure to meet expected growth rate, is associated with suboptimal birth weight (BW). Prematurity and IUGR combined represent unique risk for poorer outcome. The current study aims to add to the limited research regarding relationships between prenatal and postnatal growth and executive function (EF) in preterm (PT) preschoolers.

PT children (N = 217) were assessed at 3 – 4 years. Weight, length/height, and head circumference (HC) were collected retrospectively from birth, and measured at testing. Mixed model multiple regression was used. Predictors included prenatal and postnatal growth z-scores, change scores (birth to preschool age), SES, sex, and gestational age. Dependent variables included direct EF measures (verbal working memory [WM], verbal fluency, and inhibition), and parent ratings (BRIEF-P & CBCL subscales).

In accord with proposed hypotheses, lower standardized BW predicted elevated parent-rated behavioral dysregulation (t[96.36] = -1.77, p = .076). Suboptimal (≤ 15th %ile) birth HC predicted lower verbal WM (t[188.50] = -2.13, p = .035). Smaller preschool stature was associated with lower verbal WM after exclusion of neurological cases (t[195.63] = 1.89, p = .061). Smaller HC at preschool age, adjusted for birth HC, was associated with elevated parent ratings of behavioral dysregulation (t[86.82] = -2.19, p = .028). Smaller HC change scores also predicted poorer behavioral inhibition (t[202.64] = 1.90, p = .061).

Download
Off-campus Download

Share

COinS