A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics by researchers from the University of Warwick, led by Dr Elif Gönen and Professor Dieter Wolke, has found that the majority of adults born very preterm or with very low birth weight go on to lead positive and satisfying lives in adulthood.
Using data from the Bavarian Longitudinal Study, which followed participants from birth to age 34, the researchers found that while most adults born very preterm were functioning well across social, economic and relationship domains, around one in five experienced persistent challenges in employment, friendships and romantic relationships.
The study also identified childhood cognitive ability (IQ) as the strongest predictor of positive adult functioning, highlighting the importance of supporting cognitive development from an early age.