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The interplay between prematurity, maternal stress and children's intelligence quotient at age 11: A longitudinal

Hélène Turpin1, Sébastien Urben2, François Ansermet3

  • 1University Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. hm.turpin@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports
|January 26, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Maternal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after preterm birth may impact child intelligence. Reducing maternal PTSD symptoms in early childhood could enhance cognitive development in very premature children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Very premature children (<33 weeks gestational age) often exhibit academic challenges and lower intelligence quotients (IQs) compared to full-term peers.
  • While gestational age and socioeconomic status are recognized factors, maternal stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, is an emerging contributor to developmental outcomes.
  • Parental stress can negatively affect parent-child interactions, potentially exacerbating difficulties for premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between perinatal history, maternal PTSD symptoms, and intelligence abilities in very preterm children at 11 years of age.
  • To explore the interplay of these factors and their influence on cognitive development in a longitudinal cohort.
  • To identify potential targets for intervention to support the cognitive development of very preterm children.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving 33 very preterm and 21 full-term mother-child dyads.
  • Evaluation of children's perinatal risk at hospital discharge.
  • Assessment of maternal PTSD symptoms at 18 months postpartum.
  • Measurement of children's IQ at 11 years of age.

Main Results:

  • Children born very prematurely had significantly lower IQs than full-term children, irrespective of perinatal risk scores.
  • Lower maternal PTSD symptoms at 18 months postpartum predicted higher IQ scores in very preterm children at 11 years.
  • Perinatal risk scores did not show a reliable influence on IQ outcomes in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal PTSD symptoms following preterm birth are a significant factor influencing the cognitive development of very preterm children.
  • Early detection and intervention for maternal PTSD symptoms are crucial for enhancing the intelligence development of very preterm infants.
  • Targeting maternal mental health in the early childhood period may offer a pathway to improve long-term academic and cognitive outcomes for at-risk children.

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