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Risk-Taking Behavior of Adolescents and Young Adults Born Preterm
Suvi Alenius1, Eero Kajantie2, Reijo Sund3
1Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland; Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Individuals born preterm exhibit reduced risk-taking behaviors, including lower rates of sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancies. However, very preterm infants face a higher likelihood of payment defaults.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Developmental psychology
- Public health
Background:
- Preterm birth is associated with various developmental and behavioral outcomes.
- Understanding risk-taking behaviors in preterm populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has not comprehensively linked preterm birth to a spectrum of risk-taking proxies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between preterm birth and specific risk-taking behaviors.
- To examine sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infections (STCTs), teenage pregnancies, and payment defaults as indicators of risk-taking.
- To assess the influence of gestational age on these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Population-based register-linkage study in Finland.
- Inclusion of 191,705 children born between 1987-1990.
- Cox regression analysis to assess hazards of STCTs, teenage pregnancies, payment defaults, criminal offending, and substance abuse by gestational age.
Main Results:
- A dose-response relationship was observed between gestational age and STCTs/teenage pregnancy.
- Decreased gestational age correlated with reduced risk of STCTs and teenage pregnancy.
- Extremely preterm infants showed lower risk for criminal offending, while very preterm infants had higher hazard for payment defaults.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth is associated with generally lower risk-taking behaviors in sexual and criminal domains.
- Individuals born very preterm demonstrate an increased likelihood of payment defaults.
- Gestational age is a significant factor influencing diverse risk-taking behaviors throughout young adulthood.
Objectives:
To study sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis infections (STCTs), teenage pregnancies, and payment defaults in individuals born preterm as proxies for engaging in risk-taking behavior.
Study Design:
Our population-based register-linkage study included all 191 705 children alive at 10 years (8492 preterm [4.4%]) born without malformations in Finland between January 1987 and September 1990 as each mother's first child within the cohort. They were followed until young adulthood. We used Cox regression to assess the hazards of STCTs, teenage pregnancies, payment defaults, criminal offending, and substance abuse by gestational age. Gestational age was considered both as a continuous and categorical (extremely, very, moderately, late preterm, early term, post term, and full term as reference) exposure.
Results:
A linear dose-response relationship existed between gestational age and STCT and teenage pregnancy; adjusted hazard for STCT decreased by 1.6% (95% CI, 0.7%-2.6%), and for teenage pregnancy by 3.3% (95% CI, 1.9%-4.8%) per each week decrease in gestational age. Those born extremely preterm (23-27 completed weeks) had a 51% (95% CI, 31%-83%) lower risk for criminal offending than their full-term born counterparts, and those born very preterm (range, 28-31 weeks) had a 28% (95% CI, 7%-53%) higher hazard for payment defaults than those born at full term. Gestational age was not associated with substance abuse.
Conclusions:
The lower risk-taking that characterizes people born preterm seems to generalize to sexual and to some extent criminal behavior. Those born very preterm are, however, more likely to experience payment defaults.
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