Social functioning questionnaires of adolescents born preterm show average profiles and attenuated sex differences

Aim Prematurity has been shown to affect social competence in children and adults. Our aim was evaluate profiles of self-reported behaviours loneliness preterm- term-born adolescents. Methods Preterm (≤1500 g and, or, <32 gestational weeks)- infants were recruited Turku University Hospital from 2001 2006. The Multisource Assessment Children's Social Competence Scale the Peer Network Dyadic Loneliness completed at age 11. Profiles labelled as low, average or high. Results A total 172 preterm-born 134 adolescents returned questionnaires. Most frequently, preterm reported a profile levels loneliness. Preterm-born boys low functioning less often (preterm-born 36% vs. 54%), girls high frequently 26% 37%) than same-sex controls. Sex differences smaller Conclusion majority young born irrespective sex. seems level out between sexes.