Emotional and behavioural problems of children born preterm and maternal sensitivity: An individual participant data meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: To examine whether dyadic maternal sensitivity is associated with emotion and behaviour regulation of children born preterm (< 37 weeks' gestation). Method: We performed a systematic literature search and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis including seven cohorts (2469 mother–child dyads). Data were z-standardized according to contemporary cohort-specific term-born controls and harmonized. One-stage IPD meta-analyses were performed using mixed-effects linear regressions. Results: The fixed effects of maternal sensitivity (per SD: −0.08 [95% confidence interval = −0.16, −0.004], p = 0.039) and gestational age at birth (per week: −0.04 [−0.05, −0.03], p < 0.001) were both ass..