Study finds preterm adults face higher rates of financial and social struggles

Adults born prematurely, before the 32nd week of pregnancy or under 2.5 kilograms, experience higher rates of financial, social and emotional difficulties in adulthood compared with those born at full term, according to a 30-year study reported by The Telegraph. The research followed more than 200 preterm individuals to age 34 and compared their outcomes with a control group born at term. Around 18 percent of those born prematurely reported marked difficulty securing stable work, achieving financial stability and building social or romantic relationships, compared with just 1.5 percent of the full-term group. By contrast, 56 percent of the preterm participants achieved a good balance across various areas of life, versus 75 percent of those born at term. About a quarter of participants in both groups showed moderate stability. The researchers noted that a portion of the preterm group continued to face serious hardships affecting their quality of life and satisfaction. Earlier studies have linked preterm birth to chronic conditions later in life, including asthma, high blood pressure, heart failure and type 2 diabetes, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, the report said.