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High intelligence and intelligence profile discrepancies in preterm children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Larissa I van der Windt1, Yaela N Schrijver2, Nerissa P Denswil3
1Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Acta Psychologica
|July 18, 2025
Summary
Approximately 1 in 10 preterm children exhibit high intelligence, but they are more likely to have uneven cognitive profiles. Early identification of these intelligence patterns is crucial for tailored educational support.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm birth is associated with various developmental outcomes.
- Understanding cognitive profiles in preterm children is essential for early intervention.
- Previous research has explored intelligence in preterm populations, necessitating updated systematic reviews.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of high average and extremely high intelligence in preterm born children.
- To explore the occurrence of disharmonic intelligence profiles among preterm children.
- To compare intelligence distributions between preterm and term born children.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies published before 2017 and a comprehensive search of Medline, PsychInfo, and Embase for studies after 2017.
- Inclusion of studies reporting intelligence quotient (IQ) scores for preterm and term born children aged 5-18 years.
- Statistical analysis using random-effects models to calculate risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) for intelligence categories and identify disharmonic profiles based on Standard Mean Difference.
Main Results:
- 102 studies involving 13,773 preterm and 14,496 term born children were analyzed.
- Preterm children had significantly lower proportions of (Very) High intelligence (11.6%) and Extremely High intelligence (1.9%) compared to term children (26.6% and 5.4%, respectively).
- A notable 37.9% of studies indicated disharmonic intelligence profiles in preterm children.
Conclusions:
- Around 11.6% of preterm children achieve (Very) High average intelligence, but they are at increased risk for disharmonic cognitive profiles.
- A comprehensive cognitive assessment, including individual IQ index scores, is recommended for preterm children.
- Identifying specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses is vital for developing personalized educational strategies to optimize learning potential in preterm populations.
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