AI Insight
This study analyzed neurodevelopmental patterns in 2,297 Chinese children aged 0-6 years using standardized assessments across five developmental domains. Researchers identified two distinct developmental profiles and found that low birth weight, preterm birth, maternal pregnancy complications, and older age significantly increased the likelihood of belonging to the lower-performing "Ordinary Development Group," while female children showed better developmental outcomes. Parenting style and timing of complementary food introduction did not significantly affect developmental profile membership.
Why it matters
The findings highlight specific perinatal risk factors that can help identify children who may benefit from early developmental screening and targeted interventions. This information can guide healthcare providers and policymakers in allocating resources for early childhood developmental support, particularly for high-risk populations including preterm and low birth weight infants.
Understand the Science
BackgroundEarly childhood neuropsychological development exhibits substantial heterogeneity, yet the identification of distinct developmental profiles and their associated risk factors remains limited. This study aimed to delineate latent profiles of neuropsychological development in children aged 0–6 years and to identify factors influencing membership in these profiles.MethodsA total of 2,297 children (1,193 boys and 1,104 girls) were assessed using the Chinese Developmental Scale for Children – Second Edition (CDSC-II). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted based on age-standardized percentile scores across five developmental domains: gross motor, fine motor, language, adaptive behavior, and social behavior. A one-step regression mixture model, adjusting for child age and sex, was employed to examine associations between profile membership and perinatal and demographic factors.ResultsThe LPA identified two distinct profiles: an Ordinary Development Group (28.6%, n = 656) and an Excellent Development Group (71.4%, n = 1,641), with good class separation (entropy = 0.818). In the regression mixture model, low birth weight (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.19–3.67), preterm birth (OR = 5.23, 95% CI: 3.14–8.71), maternal pregnancy complications (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.15–1.78), and older child age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.007–1.027) were significantly associated with increased odds of belonging to the Ordinary Development Group. Conversely, female sex (vs. male) was associated with lower odds of membership in the Ordinary Development Group (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54–0.83). Parenting style (parental vs. non-parental care) and the timing of complementary food introduction were not independently associated with profile membership after adjustment (both p > 0.05).ConclusionThese findings indicate that specific maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy and the postnatal period, alongside child demographic characteristics, are significantly associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood. The results underscore the importance of early developmental screening and targeted intervention for high-risk children to optimize long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories.