Mother-child interaction and the cognitive and behavioural development of four-year-old children with poor growth

A whole population inner-city survey identified 23 stunted, otherwise healthy, children with persistently poor growth from infancy to 4 years. Their cognitive development was significantly retarded relative to a matched comparison group. Unstructured home observations were used to create transcripts of verbal and nonverbal mother-child interactions. In both groups child behavioural adjustment was linked to maternal negativity, and cognitive performance was correlated with quality of stimulation. The developmental delay associated with chronic failure to thrive appeared more likely to arise from other influences, perhaps a previous biological insult, than to contemporaneous parenting practices.

Nutrition and mealtime behaviour in families of growth-retarded children

A sample of 4-year-olds from a London inner city area whose growth fell below the 10th population centile for height and weight were matched with children whose rate of growth was within normal limits. Neither food intake nor gross environmental variables distinguished the two groups. However, mealtime observations revealed considerably more disorganization and negative attitudes in case group families. Retrospective information obtained by interview indicates that these factors had been operative since early infancy. The findings suggest that in surveys of child nutrition the role of family dysfunction should be considered.

Growth retardation and developmental delay amongst inner-city children

A whole population survey of an inner-city health district (population 130,000) was undertaken in order to study the association between social deprivation and non-organic growth delay in preschool children. Potential cases were identified from health clinic records. Cases comprised white, full-term singletons, whose weight and height lay below the tenth centile at 4 years of age. Allowance was made for parental stature. A comparison group was closely matched for socio-economic conditions, and other salient variables. Case children were comparatively significantly delayed in all areas of their cognitive development. One-third were seriously retarded and likely to require special education.