Compared to people born at term, premature babies would have more difficulty in being in a couple.
A premature birth could have consequences for the health of the baby but also on his love and emotional life. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association advances that premature babies would have more difficulty in being in a couple in adulthood.
A sample of more than 4 million people
Children born prematurely would be more likely to suffer from autistic disorders, or even to show signs of neurosis. These babies would often grow into introverted adults. This could also have consequences on their school career, their career but also on their romantic relationships and their emotional life in general.
In this new research, German and British scientists have taken data from 21 studies carried out with people born prematurely. In total, the sample brings together more than 4 million adults residing in 12 different countries.
More singles and fewer children
According to the researchers’ conclusions, the earlier the baby arrives, the greater the consequences in adulthood. People born more than three weeks before term would be 28% more likely to be single, compared to people born at term, and 22% of not having children. They are also nearly half as likely to have had sex in their early twenties.
The reasons for these differences would not be related to the physical consequences that prematurity can have. “Findings that adults born before term are less likely to have a partner, sexual intercourse and become parents do not seem to be explained by a higher rate of disability,” said Marina Mendonça, lead author of the study. ‘study.
The fact of being born prematurely would not have consequences on the quality of the relationships, even if it is difficult to measure. People born before term report the same level of satisfaction with their romantic relationships as adults born at term.
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