Relationship of withdrawn, anxious/depressed and attention problems to cognitive performance in preterm children at 18 months and 36 months of age

•Withdrawn behavior at 18 months is significantly associated with lower cognition at 18 and 36 months of age.•Withdrawn behavior at 36 months is significantly related to lower IQ scores at 36 months.old•Increase in attention problems between 18 and 36 months is associated with decreased cognitive scores over that period.•Lower SES is associated with lower cognition at 36 months and declines in cognition between 18 and 36 months of age.