Premature Birth: Withdrawn Personalities Higher In Those Born Earlier

New research published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal Edition via BMJ reveal that a premature birth may also be linked to a withdrawn personality.

Researchers at the department of psychology and Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick found that adults born preterm scored highly for displaying socially withdrawn personality characteristics, that were also indicative of certain autistic features, neuroticism, introversion and decreased risk taking.

"Personality characteristics are very important because they help people to develop into adult roles and form and maintain social relationships," said lead study author Professor Dieter Wolke at the department of psychology and Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, in a news release. "Very premature and very low birth weight adults who have a socially withdrawn personality might experience difficulty dealing with social relationships with their peers, friends and partners."

The study, which was conducted in southern Bavaria, Germany, followed children from birth into adulthood when 200 adults born between 1985-86 either very premature (before 32 weeks) or with very low birth weight at just a little over 2 pounds and a similar number of term born adults provided information about personality features.

The study results were non sex-specific and related to income or education, compared to a control group of adults who were born healthy in the same obstetric wards.

"Defining a general personality profile is important because this higher order personality factor may help to partly explain the social difficulties these individuals experience in adult roles, such as in peer and partner relationships and career," added Wolke. "Previous studies have found they are more likely to be bullied at school and less likely to progress to university or attain well paid employment. They are also less likely to form social contacts, to maintain romantic relationships and to have children."

However, researchers also added that certain stresses experienced outside of the womb can contribute to a withdrawn personality, including over-protective parents.

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