Objective: To evaluate the interrelationships between childhood maltreatment, life satisfaction (LS), and depressive symptoms, and to investigate LS as a mediating factor in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Methods: The sample consisted of 342 adolescents, aged 11 to 17 years (mean = 13.3, SD = 1.52 years), recruited from a public school in Salvador, Brazil. Participants filled out instruments for the collection of sociodemographic data and evaluation of childhood maltreatment, LS, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the mediating effect of LS. Results: We detected significant negative correlations between childhood maltreatment and LS and between LS and depressive symptoms. We observed a significant positive correlation between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. LS partially mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms, mitigating the impact of maltreatment. Conclusion: LS played an important mediating role in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are recommended to fully elucidate these associations, reinforcing the need for attention and care of this vulnerable population.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar, por meio do Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), o desenvolvimento motor de lactentes nascidos pré-termo que estavam com idade gestacional corrigida de 38 a 40 semanas com o de recém-nascidos a termo. MÉTODOS: Estudo de desenho transversal em que se comparou o desempenho motor de lactentes pré-termo (grupo RNPT), com idade gestacional no parto de 28 a 33 semanas, avaliados na idade equivalente ao termo, com o de recém-nascidos a termo (grupo RNT), avaliados em até 48 horas de vida, por meio do TIMP. A coleta dos dados foi realizada no período de dezembro de 2008 a abril de 2009, num hospital de referência para assistência a prematuros na cidade de Recife, PE, Brasil. A amostra foi constituída de 92 lactentes, 46 para cada grupo. O teste foi aplicado na idade de 38 a 40 semanas de idade gestacional (corrigida, no caso dos lactentes nascidos pré-termo). RESULTADOS:Dos 46 lactentes pré-termo avaliados, 26,1% foram classificados como atípicos, enquanto 100% dos recém-nascidos a termo foram classificados como típicos (p<0,001). Além disso, houve diferença significativa na média do escore bruto do teste nos dois grupos, sendo a média do grupo RNPT menor (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: A prematuridade parece estar associada a prejuízo no desenvolvimento motor, avaliado pelo TIMP.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the motor development of preterm infants whose gestational age had been corrected to 38-40 weeks with full term newborns using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP). METHODS: The cross-sectional study compared preterm infants (PT group), with a gestational age at birth of 28-33 weeks, at an equivalent age to full term newborns (FT group), who were assessed up to 48 hours after birth. The assessments were performed between December 2008 and April 2009 in a hospital nationally recognized for premature infant care in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. The sample consisted of 92 infants, 46 in each group. The test was administered at age 38-40 weeks (or equivalent age in the PT group). RESULTS: In the 46 preterm infants studied, 26.1% were classified as atypical, while in the FT group 100% were classified as typical (p<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in average raw TIMP score between the two groups, with the PT group being lower (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to TIMP performance, prematurity seems to be associated with impaired motor development.