Motor Performance in Association with Perceived Loneliness and Social Competence in 11-Year-Old Children Born Very Preterm

Abstract

Background: Very preterm birth may affect motor performance and social competence up to adulthood. Our objective was to describe perceived loneliness and social competence in children born very preterm in relation to motor impairment. Methods: 165 children born very preterm (birth weight ≤ 1500 g and/or gestational age < 32 weeks) were assessed at 11 years of age. Cerebral palsy (CP) was diagnosed by 2 years of age. At 11 years of age, motor outcome was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children—Second edition (Movement ABC-2). Loneliness was evaluated by using the Peer Network and Dyadic Loneliness scale and social competence by using the Multisource Assessment of Children’s Social Competence Scale. Results: In total, 6 (4%) children had CP, 18 (11%) had Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) (Movement ABC-2 ≤ 5th percentiles), and 141 (85%) had typical motor development. There was no correlation between percentiles for total scores of the Movement ABC-2 and perceived loneliness or social competence when the children with motor impairment (CP or DCD) were excluded. Children with DCD reported less perceived loneliness, but more problems with social competence compared to children with CP. Conclusions: It is important to recognize children born very preterm with DCD to provide interventions and support services to prevent social exclusion.

Five-to-Fifteen—Parental Perception of Developmental Profile from Age 5 to 8 Years in Children Born Very Preterm

“…DCD, in turn, has been reported to associate with a lower full-scale intelligence quotient, a slower procession speed, problems with attention, perception, executive functions, and visuomotor coordination, as well as emotional, social, and behavioral problems in children born very or extremely preterm [ 10 , 20 ]. We have previously shown in this same very preterm PIPARI study cohort that 11-year-old children with DCD had 15 points lower full-scale intelligence quotient and lower self-experienced health-related quality of life [ 28 ], as well as more problems with social competence [ 30 ] compared to children born very preterm without DCD at 11 years.…”

Sadness and Loneliness in Adolescents with Physical, Sensory or Health Problems in Low/Middle-Income Countries

“…Similarly, in adolescents with physical disabilities, a prevalence of clinical sadness of 48.33% has been identified in adolescents with sight difficulties [ 16 ], and higher levels of loneliness have been identified in these adolescents compared to their peers with normal vision [ 17 ]. Higher levels of loneliness and depression are also observed in children with developmental motor coordination problems who are at higher risk of feeling socially isolated and developing anxiety and depression [ 18 ]. In contrast, despite the significant correlations between disability and loneliness, sadness and crying, other findings point to a more complex relationship between these factors.…”

“…In the case of sensory impairment, blind students aged 7–17 years had a 48.33% prevalence rate of clinical sadness [ 16 ] and higher levels of loneliness than those with normal vision [ 17 ]. Children with developmental motor coordination disorders are at a higher risk of social isolation, poor social skills and difficulty relating to peers and a higher likelihood of developing depression and anxiety compared to typically developing peers [ 18 ]. Adolescents with daily abdominal pain cry more often and feel lonelier and sadder than adolescents with occasional abdominal pain [ 19 ].…”

“…Given that two of the central symptoms of depression in adolescents are loneliness and sadness and the high association between crying and sadness [ 20 , 21 ]; that the presence of physical or psychological disability increases the risk of feeling lonely, sad and like crying [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]; that controversy exists regarding the importance of family socioeconomic status [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]; and that most studies have been conducted in developed countries, there is a need for further studies in this regard. This study aimed to assess the relationship between disability and sadness, loneliness and crying for no reason in young people from low- to middle-income countries and to test the risk of experiencing these emotions in young people with different disabilities versus the overall population.…”

Special Issue: Prematurity, Preterm-Born Adults, and Long-Term Effects on Children and Adults

“…Close attention to neurodevelopmental issues in the routine follow-up of premature infants is essential for early intervention. For example, Helin et al assessed motor performance, perceived loneliness, and social competence in mid-childhood [ 9 ]. Recognizing motor and neurodevelopmental issues is essential to provide interventions and support to prevent social exclusion.…”