Personality in Adults Who Were Born Very Preterm

Abstract

AimTo investigate the personality in very preterm individuals (VPT; gestational age, GA, <32 weeks) at adult age in two cohorts born in 1974–76 and 1980–82, respectively, and to illuminate the effect of increased survival rates and the clinical implications of deviations in personality.MethodDemographic data were extracted for all individuals born in Denmark in 1974–76 and 1980–82. From each period one index-group each comprising 150 individuals with the lowest gestational age was selected. Thereafter two control groups born at term were matched by gender, age and residential area. Personality was assessed with the short version of NEO PI-R, and psychiatric diagnoses were obtained from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register.ResultsOf all the individuals born <32 weeks of gestation in 1980–82 67% were alive in 2006 vs. 43% of those born in 1974–76 (p<0.0001). A total of 433 individuals participated in the study, 76% of the VPT groups (n = 227, mean GA = 27.9) and 69% of the control groups (n = 206). There were no significant differences on personality scores between the two VPT groups. Compared to the control groups, the combined VPT groups scored higher on neuroticism (p = 0.005) and agreeableness (p = 0.012), but lower on extraversion (p = 0.002). Psychiatric disorder was strongly associated with higher scores on neuroticism and lower scores on extraversion.InterpretationImproved survival of VPT infants was not associated with increased deviances in the personality as adults. The personality traits in VPT individuals differ moderately from those of term born controls. High scores in neuroticism and low scores in extraversion were associated with increased risk psychiatric disorders. VPT adults also showed signs of positive adaptation in the form of an agreeable and confident attitude towards others.What this paper addsThe much improved survival rate in very preterm infants during the early years of active neonatology was not associated with increased risk of personality deviation. There are signs of positive adaptation in the form of increased agreeableness in young adults born very preterm.

Self-Reported Mental Health Problems Among Adults Born Preterm: A Meta-analysis

“…These findings are in partial agreement with individual studies on self-reported mental health problems in adults born preterm showing more internalizing and social problems but less consistent findings on externalizing problems. 9, 10, 12 -14 Previous studies on personality traits have also shown more withdrawal, social avoidance, and anxiousness 26,27 and less extraversion, hostility, and assertiveness 28 -30 in VLBW adults. Furthermore, these behavioral characteristics of VLBW adults are reflected in their reports of less risk-taking behavior and fewer romantic partners.…”

Origins and Predictors of Friendships in 6- to 8-Year-Old Children Born at Neonatal Risk

“…Children born very preterm (VP; < 32 weeks gestational age [GA]) are at increased risk of poor social adjustment (8). Compared with term born peers, VP children more often experience peer relationship problems and social isolation (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), and differences persist into adulthood (16,17). Although social difficulties are well documented for VP / very low birth weight (< 1500 g) individuals, few studies have investigated the social adjustment of moderately to late preterm children (32)(33)(34)(35)(36) weeks GA) (18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”

An association of adult personality with prenatal and early postnatal growth: the EPQ lie-scale

“…Other studies support the two studies by pointing towards low birth weight or preterm birth as being associated with social acquiescence and interpersonal relations, such as difficulties in establishing social contacts (Hille et al 2008 ), antisocial behaviours (Hack et al 2004 ), cautiousness (Waxman et al 2013 ), agreeableness (Hertz et al 2013 ), neuroticism (Lahti et al 2013 ; Hertz et al 2013 ), and higher extraversion (Hertz et al 2013 ), in addition to being more likely to be cautious, shy, risk aversive and less extraverted (Schmidt et al 2008 ).…”

“…In line with studies of psychiatric disorders, recent findings have focused on associations between personality traits and pre- and postnatal growth. Thus, preterm birth and very low birth weight have proven to be associated with higher neuroticism and agreeableness in addition to lower extraversion (Hertz et al 2013 ), difficulties in establishing social contacts (Hille et al 2008 ), antisocial behaviours (Hack et al 2004 ), cautiousness (Waxman et al 2013 ), and to be more likely to be cautious, shy, risk aversive and less extraverted (Schmidt et al 2008 ). In representative samples, research of associations between birth weight and personality traits is sparse and based on either The Helsinki Birth Cohort Study 1934–44 (HBCS) or the English national child development study (NCDS) from 1958.…”