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Impact of preterm birth on parental separation: a French population-based longitudinal study

Simon Nusinovici1, Bertrand Olliac2,3, Cyril Flamant1,4

  • 1INSERM, Clinical Investigation Center, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.

BMJ Open
|November 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Infant neurodevelopment at 2 years, not gestational age, impacts parental separation risk. Non-optimal development in preterm infants increases separation likelihood, especially in low socioeconomic settings.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Family studies

Background:

  • Premature birth is linked to various infant health challenges.
  • Parental separation is a significant life event with potential impacts on child development.
  • Understanding factors influencing family stability is crucial for supporting child well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between low gestational age and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years with parental separation risk within 7 years of birth.
  • To investigate the mediating role of neurodevelopment in the relationship between prematurity and family stability.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 5732 infants born before 35 weeks gestation.
  • Neurodevelopmental evaluation at 2 years included physical, psychomotor, and parent-reported assessments.
  • Parental separation was assessed over a 7-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

  • Ten percent of parents separated within the follow-up period.
  • Low gestational age did not directly increase parental separation risk.
  • Non-optimal neurodevelopment at 2 years was associated with a 49% increased risk of parental separation (HR=1.49).
  • Low socioeconomic status exacerbated the risk of parental separation.

Conclusions:

  • Infant neurodevelopmental status at 2 years mediates the relationship between low gestational age and parental separation.
  • Early neurodevelopmental support for preterm infants may contribute to family stability.
Abstract

Keywords:
cohortlow gestational ageneurodevelopment outcomeparental separation

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