Being born very premature
can affect a child's personality into adulthood, a study
has suggested.
Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry
studied 18 and 19-year-olds who had been born early, and
compared them to those born at full-term.
Premature babies, particularly girls,
were found to be more likely to be anxious and withdrawn,
and potentially at a higher risk of depression.
The study is published in the American
journal Pediatrics.
The researchers assessed 108 young adults
who had been born before 33 weeks gestation between 1979
and 1981.
They were then compared with 67 people
of the same age who were born at full-term.
Everyone was asked to complete a personality
questionnaire, which included 48 questions such as 'does
your mood ever go up or down?' and 'do you enjoy co-operating
with others?'.
Brain infection
The results suggested those born prematurely
had lower levels of a personality trait called 'extraversion',
indicating that they may have less confident and outgoing
personalities.
They also had higher levels of the personality
trait 'neuroticism', which indicates increased anxiety,
lower mood and lower self-esteem.
Girls' personalities were more likely
to be affected by being born early.
The researchers, led by psychiatrist
Dr Matthew Allin, said the scores suggest being born very
premature might predispose someone to the kind of personality
likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders.
The study did not look at why being born
premature might affect personality.
But Dr Allin told the BBC News website
there were a few possible explanations.
"It's possible that being born very small
might be linked to some damage to the brain, possibly
an infection.
"It might be that being in an incubator
makes it difficult to bond with parents, and for them
to bond with you.
"While another possibility is that personality
is in the genes to some extent, so could be inherited
to some degree."
The researchers plan to continue their
studies to try to pin down which explanation is correct.
A spokeswoman for Bliss, the premature
baby charity, said: "These findings are very interesting.
"Instead of attributing these findings
exclusively to brain function, genetics or upbringing,
we would like to see more research into the stress and
trauma caused by the intensive care experience itself.
"The possible effects of psychological
trauma stemming from something highly invasive, like intensive
care, should not be ignored. This is an area which merits
much more research and attention."
