Sex-typical behavior in children born preterm at very low birth weight. 2021

Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
Cancer Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

Perinatal events may alter psychosexual development. We aimed to assess whether a preterm birth at very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) or antenatal synthetic glucocorticoids (sGC) given to the mother are associated with altered sex-typical behavior in childhood. Sex-typical behavior was assessed using the Pre-school Activities Inventory (PSAI) at the mean age of 4.9 years (SD 1.6) in 879 children, of whom 143 were preterm with VLBW (PT <1500 g, all exposed to sGC), 282 were preterm with birth weight ≥1500 g (PT ≥1500 g, 171 exposed to sGC), and 454 were full term (FT, 166 exposed to sGC). Antenatal sGC was not associated with PSAI scores in either sex. PT <1500 g boys had less male-typical PSAI scores than other boys, even in multivariate model adjusting for age, maternal age, antenatal sGC, number of brothers and sisters, and motor or cognitive impairment. PT <1500 g girls had less female-typical PSAI scores than other girls in the multivariate model. The effect size was small (d = 0.03) for both sexes. Preterm birth with VLBW is associated with reduced sex-typical behavior in childhood, which is in line with the previous data indicating altered psychosexual development in adults born preterm. Mechanisms underlying these observations are not fully understood. Preterm birth is associated with reduced rates of marriage and reproduction in adulthood, but sex-typical behavior in children born preterm has not been studied before. The results of this study indicate that preterm birth with very low birth weight <1500 g is associated with reduced sex-typical behavior in childhood in both sexes. These observations are in line with the previous data indicating altered psychosexual development in adults born preterm. Mechanisms underlying these observations are not fully understood and require further studies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234 Infant, Premature A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION. Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D008297 Male Males
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D005938 Glucocorticoids A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system. Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012737 Sex Factors Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances. Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D015331 Cohort Studies Studies in which subsets of a defined population are identified. These groups may or may not be exposed to factors hypothesized to influence the probability of the occurrence of a particular disease or other outcome. Cohorts are defined populations which, as a whole, are followed in an attempt to determine distinguishing subgroup characteristics. Birth Cohort Studies,Birth Cohort Study,Closed Cohort Studies,Cohort Analysis,Concurrent Studies,Historical Cohort Studies,Incidence Studies,Analysis, Cohort,Cohort Studies, Closed,Cohort Studies, Historical,Studies, Closed Cohort,Studies, Concurrent,Studies, Historical Cohort,Analyses, Cohort,Closed Cohort Study,Cohort Analyses,Cohort Studies, Birth,Cohort Study,Cohort Study, Birth,Cohort Study, Closed,Cohort Study, Historical,Concurrent Study,Historical Cohort Study,Incidence Study,Studies, Birth Cohort,Studies, Cohort,Studies, Incidence,Study, Birth Cohort,Study, Closed Cohort,Study, Cohort,Study, Concurrent,Study, Historical Cohort,Study, Incidence
D019102 Infant, Very Low Birth Weight An infant whose weight at birth is less than 1500 grams (3.3 lbs), regardless of gestational age. Very Low Birth Weight,Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant,Infant, Very-Low-Birth-Weight,Infants, Very-Low-Birth-Weight,Very Low Birth Weight Infant,Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Related Publications

Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
November 2014, Development and psychopathology,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
January 2013, The Spanish journal of psychology,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
April 2013, Lipids in health and disease,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
July 2022, The Journal of pediatrics,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
March 2015, European journal of paediatric neurology : EJPN : official journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
September 2022, Minerva pediatrics,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
June 2011, BMC women's health,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
October 2016, Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979),
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
January 2008, Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists,
Annamarja Lamminmäki, and Tanja Kuiri-Hänninen, and Ulla Sankilampi
February 2015, The Journal of pediatrics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!