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Social functioning questionnaires of adolescents born preterm show average profiles and attenuated sex differences

Susanna Salomäki1, Päivi Rautava2,3, Niina Junttila4

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|December 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Preterm adolescents often show average social competence and loneliness. Prematurity appears to reduce sex differences in social functioning among adolescents.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics
  • Social Neuroscience

Background:

  • Prematurity is linked to social competence challenges in children and adults.
  • Understanding social behaviors and loneliness in preterm adolescents is crucial for developmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate self-reported social behaviors and loneliness profiles in preterm- and term-born adolescents.
  • To identify specific social competence and loneliness patterns associated with prematurity.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited preterm (≤1500g and/or <32 weeks gestation) and term-born infants.
  • Administered the Multisource Assessment of Children's Social Competence Scale and Peer Network and Dyadic Loneliness Scale at age 11.
  • Categorized social competence and loneliness into low, average, or high profiles.

Main Results:

  • 172 preterm and 134 term adolescents completed questionnaires.
  • Preterm adolescents most commonly reported average social competence and average loneliness.
  • Preterm boys had less low social functioning (36% vs 54%), and preterm girls less high social functioning (26% vs 37%) than term-born peers.
  • Sex differences in social functioning were smaller in preterm-born adolescents.

Conclusions:

  • Most preterm adolescents exhibit average or high social functioning, regardless of sex.
  • Prematurity may mitigate sex-based disparities in adolescent social functioning.
Abstract

Keywords:
lonelinesslong-term follow-upschool ageself-rating scalessocial competence

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