(PS9-D88) Preterm, Short-term, and Long-term: Lasting Effects of Premature Birth on Caregiver Ratings of Youth Anxiety

Growing evidence suggests a link between perinatal health and multiple outcomes in early childhood, including infant development, behavior, and forming of attachment styles (Hollins, 2007). Several studies cite a connection between acute perinatal experiences, namely maternal morbidity, preterm birth (PTB), and traumatic birth, on immediate psychological effects for the mother-infant dyad (Griffen, 2021). However, less is known about the lasting impact of acute perinatal experiences on middle childhood and adolescents. When treating youth beyond early childhood, do perinatal experiences continue to play a role? Do perinatal events bear long-term effects on youth mood and anxiety? This study is a secondary analysis of data collected from an RCT evaluating treatments for anxiety and depression in youth. The present research examined the link between PTB and severity ratings of youth mood and anxiety.

A total of 173 youth, ages 9-17, (Mage = 12.8, SD = 2.3; 56.6% female) and their caregivers completed a comprehensive assessment for an RCT treating anxiety and depression. Caregivers reported on perinatal history and duration of pregnancy. Of the 173 families, 24 experienced PTB (delivery prior to 37 weeks gestational age). Two sets of analyses were conducted. The first set compared reports from the 24 PTB families to the remaining 149 in the sample. The second analyses compared reports from the 24 PTB families to a yoked sample, based on child age and sex, to create equal cell size (Mage = 13.4, SD = 2.3, 60.4% female). Child symptom severity was measured using the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare RCADS scores between PTB and non-PTB groups, controlling for age.

In the first set of analyses, most results proved non-significant, with the exception of the caregiver-report RCADS social phobia model F(1, 170) = 4.75, p = .031, η_p² = .03. In the second set of analyses, comparing PTB against a yoked sample, the caregiver reported social phobia model was again significant, this time with a larger effect size, F(1, 45) = 9.25, p = .004, η_p² = .17, as well as caregiver reported RCADS generalized anxiety, F(1, 45) = 4.09, p = .049, η_p² = .08, and caregiver reported total RCADS scores F(1, 45) = 4.84, p = .033, η_p² = .09. For both analyses, PTB was not significantly linked with youth-reported scores.

Preliminary analyses indicate PTB is significantly related to caregiver ratings of youth mood and anxiety, far beyond early childhood. Interestingly, caregiver ratings for PTB families were most significant for social phobia, and youth ratings did not yield significant differences at all. More research and larger group samples are needed to explain this relationship. However, this reporting discrepancy might be explained by long-term caregiver anxiety about PTB children. Further study identifying mediators and possible moderators to help elucidate this relationship is needed. Overall, findings demonstrate potential for longer-term effects of PTB on caregiver perceptions of child anxiety, particularly social phobia. For mental health providers, collecting information on perinatal experiences and PTB may give insight into caregivers’ perceptions of youth anxiety, well into child development.