Underlying Factor Structure of Perinatal Events

Abstract

The underlying factor structure of perinatal events was examined for 847 children (272 normals, 117 develop-mentally disabled, 37 speech disordered, 221 learning disordered, 91 emotionally disturbed, and 109 Head Start children). Pertinent perinatal information from the Maternal Perinatal Scale was subjected to a principle-components factor analysis. Ten factors accounting for some 58% of the total variance were isolated. In general, these factors appeared to be consistent with clinical evidence. The results were discussed in terms of their implications for the utility of perinatal information.