Psychological Resilience and Wellbeing in Adolescents Born Premature

Abstract

Children born preterm often experience poorer psychological outcomes at each developmental life stage compared to full-term peers. However, this vulnerable population is often considered remarkable for their resilience in the face of adversity. To examine difficulties in psychological wellbeing and establish possible patterns of resilience with the preterm population, this study uses data from the prospective Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) to assess the association between prematurity and the stability of internalising problems from 10-11 to 14-15 years. The study investigates the interacting effects of gestational period, gender and parental warmth on the stability of severity of internalising problems following the transition to adolescence. Data from 44 very preterm (VPT), 195 moderate preterm (MPT) and 2851 term born adolescent participants in the LSAC was used. Gestational period was found to be predictive of resilience, with durations less than 32 weeks associated with increased internalising difficulties during the transition to adolescence compared to non-preterm and moderate preterm. Gender moderated the association between gestational age and increased internalising problems with very preterm female adolescents encountering the highest internalising psychopathology and the greatest magnitude of change between middle childhood and adolescence. Parental warmth was not predictive of stability of psychological wellbeing in preterm respondents. These findings may help inform early intervention practices for preterm populations in boosting child coping capacities and peer and parent support prior to adolescence, and prompt further research into the mechanisms driving the distinct pattern of psychological resilience of females born very prematurely.