Summary: A large-scale European study found no evidence that having a sibling born preterm leads to more behavioral problems in children born at term. Researchers analyzed data from over 65,000 children and found no significant differences in behavior between children with preterm versus term-born siblings.
However, children without any siblings displayed higher levels of both internalizing and externalizing behaviors. These findings challenge assumptions about the behavioral impact of preterm birth on siblings and emphasize the importance of further research into family structure and mental health.
Key Facts:
- No Behavioral Risk: Children with preterm-born siblings did not show more behavioral problems than peers with only term-born siblings.
- Only Children at Risk: Higher levels of behavioral difficulties were observed in children without siblings.
- Robust Data Analysis: Study used secure DataSHIELD platform to analyze data from 65,711 children across four countries.
Source: University of Oulu
A new study published in PLOS Mental Health has explored whether having a sibling born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation) affects the behaviour of children born at term.
In a study by the University of Oulu, researchers found no evidence that siblings of preterm-born children experience more behavioural problems than those with only term-born siblings.
However, children without any siblings showed higher levels of behavioural difficulties.
The study analysed data from 65,711 children aged 14 and under, using information from birth cohorts in Denmark, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands. Children were divided into three groups: those with at least one preterm-born sibling, those with only term-born siblings, and those without siblings.
Researchers assessed internalising behaviours—such as anxiety, depression and stress—and externalising behaviours, including impulsivity, aggression and rule-breaking. Behavioural data were gathered using parental reports via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Child Behaviour Checklist.
The results showed that children with preterm-born siblings did not differ significantly in behavioural outcomes compared to those with only term-born siblings. In contrast, children without siblings had higher internalising and externalising scores.
While the study did not identify a behavioural risk associated with having a preterm-born sibling, it highlights the need for further research. The authors note that the mental health of siblings and larger sample sizes for specific subgroups should be included in future longitudinal studies.
Children with preterm-born siblings remain an understudied group that could potentially be at increased risk of mental health challenges.
The researchers emphasise that continued investigation could provide essential evidence for targeted support, especially if future studies reveal specific vulnerabilities among siblings of preterm-born children.
The study analysed all data using DataSHIELD, an analysis platform which allows remote access to data and aims to facilitate data sharing across institutions, whilst ensuring total data protection.
The research was conducted as part of the European Union-funded LifeCycle project but was a larger collaboration involving projects such as LongITools and ATHLETE, part of the European Human Exposome Network.
The LifeCycle project created the EU Child Cohort Network (EUCCN), which brings together data from 17 cohorts across Europe and Australia, and is featured in the larger European Health Research Data and Sample Catalogue developed in the other projects.
About this neurodevelopment and behavior research news
Author: Meri Rova
Source: University of Oulu
Contact: Meri Rova – University of Oulu
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Internalising and externalising behaviour in siblings of children born preterm” by Wnurinham Silva et al. PLOS Mental Health
Abstract
Internalising and externalising behaviour in siblings of children born preterm
The family environment in which children grow up is associated with the development of their behaviour. It has been proposed that changes in family dynamics, associated with a child being born preterm, can influence siblings’ health.
We tested the hypothesis that term-born children (≤ 14 years of age) with younger preterm born siblings are at an increased risk of having higher internalising and externalising behaviour problems than term-born children with term-born siblings.
We also compared scores with children without siblings. We used harmonised data from four European birth cohorts.
We grouped 65,711 term-born children (49% girls) across the four cohorts as follows: risk group (with younger preterm born siblings; n = 427), reference group (with only term siblings; n = 12,371), and only-child group (without siblings; n = 52,913).
We investigated whether the internalising and externalising z-standardised scores of the term-born children differ by group.
The scores came from parent-completed Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Child Behaviour Checklist.
Scores of the risk and only-child groups were compared to the reference group. Analyses were conducted in three age groups: ≤ 4, 5–10 and 11–14 years of age.
We conducted a two-stage individual participant data meta-analysis and found no evidence of differences in internalising or externalising scores between the risk and the reference groups within any of the age groups.
In contrast, the internalising and externalising scores of the only-child participants were higher than the reference group (Internalising- ≤ 4 years: mean difference (MD)=0.06 [95%CI = 0.03,0.08]; 5–10 years: MD = 0.12 [-0.01,0.25]; 11–14 years: MD = 0.07 [0.03,0.12]; Externalising- ≤ 4 years: MD = 0.06 [0.03,0.08]; 5–10 years: MD = 0.10 [0.06,0.15]; 11–14 years: MD = 0.09 [-0.03,0.21]).
We found no evidence supporting that having a younger sibling born preterm is a risk factor for increased internalising or externalising behaviour.
However, we observed higher internalising and externalising scores in children without siblings compared to those with term-born siblings.
