Biological and Ecological Influences on Development at 24 and 36 Months of Age

A mutiple linear regression analysis of development at ages 2 and 3 is reported. Ss were drawn from a large birth cohort born in 1966. The study examined the role of maternal traits, environmental factors, race and social class, and biological data from the perinatal period, biological risk status and physical growth, as predictors of physical growth and mental development. The findings, when related to those of a study examining children from the same cohort at age 12 mo., showed that two aggregates of environmental data, one representing the micro-environment of mother and child, the other the macro-environment of society, failed to emerge as significant influences on development in the first 3 yr. of life. In contrast, a biological model based on early developmental data emerged as a comparatively significant influence on physical growth.