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Differential susceptibility effects of maternal sensitivity in childhood on small for gestational age adults’ wealth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2019

Tobey Nichols ,
Julia Jaekel ,
Peter Bartmann  and
Dieter Wolke
Tobey Nichols
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
Julia Jaekel
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, UK
Peter Bartmann
Affiliation:
University Hospital Bonn, Germany
Dieter Wolke*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, UK Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dieter Wolke, Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, CoventryCV4 7AL, UK. E-mail: D.Wolke@warwick.ac.uk
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Abstract

Being born small for gestational age (SGA) is considered a developmental vulnerability. Alternatively, SGA may be viewed as a marker for individual susceptibility to environmental experiences. The aim was to test if individuals born SGA are more susceptible to both negative and positive environmental experiences assessed by sensitive parenting in childhood compared with those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). The target outcome was wealth in young adulthood. A total of 438 participants (SGA, n = 109; AGA, n = 329) were studied as part of the prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study of neonatal at-risk children. Maternal sensitivity was observed during a standardized mother-child interaction task, and IQ was assessed with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children at age 6 years. At age 26, participants’ wealth was assessed with a comprehensive composite score. Individuals born SGA were found to be more susceptible to the effects of sensitive parenting after controlling for gestational age and IQ at age 6 years. When maternal sensitivity was lower than average, SGA adults did worse than AGA adults, but when exposed to above-average maternal sensitivity in childhood, they obtained significantly higher wealth than their AGA peers by 26 years of age.

Keywords

Bavarian Longitudinal Study (BLS)differential susceptibilitymaternal sensitivitysmall for gestational agewealth
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2020 , pp. 197 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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