Outline of work:

Developments in perinatal and neonatal care have resulted in the increase of the survival rates of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestational age). It has been suggested that very preterm infants are at risk of developing behavioural and cognitive problems in their childhood. Regulatory problems, defined as problems of crying, sleeping and feeding, have been highlighted as important factors in the development of childhood behavioural problems. These regulatory problems usually cause troubles to parents and impact their parenting behaviours in a negative way. Based on these information, my PhD research aims to explore how early regulatory problems and mother-infant interaction impact on very preterm infant’s behaviour.

Contact Details

Journal Articles:

• Bilgin, A., & Wolke, D. (2016). Regulatory problems in very preterm and full-term infants over the first 18 months. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 37 (4), 298-305.
• Bilgin, A., & Wolke, D. (2015). Maternal sensitivity in parenting preterm children: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 136 (1).

Supervisor:
Professor Dieter Wolke