Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Self-perceived health, functioning and well-being of very low birth weight infants at age 20 years

Maureen Hack1, Lydia Cartar, Mark Schluchter

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. mxh7@case.edu

The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight (VLBW) individuals report similar adult health but less resilience. Despite better achievement and risk avoidance, VLBW survivors face more long-term health issues.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal health outcomes
  • Longitudinal studies in developmental pediatrics
  • Adult health of preterm infants

Background:

  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1.5 kg) face unique developmental challenges.
  • Understanding the long-term self-perceived health of VLBW survivors into adulthood is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and compare the self-perceived health and well-being of very low birth weight (VLBW) individuals with normal birth weight (NBW) controls in young adulthood.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 241 VLBW and 232 NBW individuals completed the Child Health and Illness Profile: Adolescent Edition (CHIP-AE) at age 20.
  • The CHIP-AE assesses health across domains including Satisfaction, Comfort, Resilience, Achievement, Risk Avoidance, and Disorders.
  • Statistical analyses compared VLBW and NBW groups, adjusting for sex and sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

  • VLBW subjects reported lower Resilience, particularly in physical activity and family involvement.
  • Conversely, VLBW individuals demonstrated better Achievement in work performance and higher Risk Avoidance.
  • VLBW survivors experienced significantly more long-term medical, surgical, and psychosocial disorders compared to NBW controls.

Conclusions:

  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) survivors perceive their overall health and functioning similarly to normal birth weight (NBW) peers in young adulthood.
  • While VLBW individuals exhibit enhanced risk avoidance and achievement, their diminished resilience raises concerns for future adult health.
  • Longitudinal monitoring and support are essential for VLBW survivors to address potential long-term health detriments.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
Benefits of Self-Esteem01:25

Benefits of Self-Esteem

Self-esteem—an individual's overall evaluation of their worth—plays a complex role in psychological functioning and well-being. It is often associated with many positive traits, such as confidence, optimism, and perseverance. Individuals with high self-esteem typically experience better sleep, manage peer pressure more effectively, and report greater life satisfaction. Conversely, low self-esteem has been consistently linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and poor academic or...
Dimensions of Health and Illness01:21

Dimensions of Health and Illness

The factors influencing the health-illness continuum can be internal or external and may or may not be under conscious control. They are related to the following eight human dimensions, and each dimension is interrelated to one other.
Self-Concept01:19

Self-Concept

Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Self-Esteem01:28

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...