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Cognition and Quality of Social Relationships in Extremely Preterm Adolescents

Thu, April 8, 3:15 to 4:15pm EDT (3:15 to 4:15pm EDT), Virtual

Abstract

Introduction:

Extremely preterm adolescents (EPT; gestational age <28 weeks) are at greater risk for deficits in cognition and social competence when compared to full-term (FT) children. Little is known, however, about the cognitive correlates of these deficits. The two aims of this study were to 1) examine the differences in cognition and quality of social relationships in EPT and FT adolescents and 2) explore associations between cognitive and social outcomes.

Methods:

Data from this study were obtained from 41 adolescents (23 EPT and 18 FT) between 11 and 16 years of age (Mage = 13.59; S.D. = 1.70). Quality of relationships with family and friends was assessed using the Network Relationships Inventory-Relationship Qualities Version (NRI-RQV). Tests of working memory, processing speed, and executive function from the WISC-V and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery were administered to examine cognitive correlates of relationship quality. Group comparison were conducted using t-tests and associations between cognition and relationship quality using partial correlations that controlled for group and SES.

Results:

On the NRI-RQV, the EPT group reported being closer to their siblings (t (36) =-2.42, p < .03) than the FT group, with a trend for EPT youth to also report a closer relationship with their parents (t (39) =-2.01, p =.052). The EPT group also obtained significantly lower scores on the Processing Speed and Working Memory composites of the WISC-V (p <.01) and on both the Fluid and Crystallized cognitive composites of the NIH Toolbox (p’s < .001). Lower Processing Speed scores was associated with reports of closer relationships with siblings (r =-.40, p =.02), mothers (r = -.34, p =.05,) and fathers (r =-.42, p <.02). Higher scores on the NIH Toolbox Dimensional Change Card Sort were related to closer relationships to peers relative to parents (r =.35, p <.05).

Discussion:

EPT adolescents scored less well than FT youth on cognitive measures and higher on quality of social relationships with siblings and parents. A measure of processing speed was negatively associated with level of closeness with immediate family members. Results suggest that EPT adolescents and less cognitively able youth may be less prone to seek relationships outside of their family. Future research is needed to examine preterm adolescents’ social networks more comprehensively and further explore the effects of gender and age.

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