This paper looks at the self-reported well-being and self-esteem of adolescents born very preterm and moderate to late preterm compared with those born full-term.
Using information on around 14,500 people born In the UK, Germany and Switzerland, and whose lives were tracked into adolescence, the researchers found no difference between the general well-being around family, school, and physical appearance and global self-esteem of adolescents born preterm and those born full-term.
Adolescents born very preterm did report lower well-being in peer relationships than those born full-term.
Fetal growth restriction appeared to have no impact nor did sex, parental education, and ethnicity.
The researchers conclude that interventions to enhance well-being in very preterm born adolescents could focus on improving peer relationships in childhood and adolescence.