450 - Investigating Peer Relationship Problems and Leisure Participation in Children Born Preterm

Poster Number: 450
Publication Number: 450.121

Brianna Hanby, Mothers, Babies and Women's Health Program, Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Lutwyche, Queensland, Australia; Jemima K. Walker, Mothers, Babies and Women's Health Program, Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Grace C. Fitzallen, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Carmina Erdei, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Hudson (Gerry) Taylor, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States; Samudragupta Bora, Mater Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Background: Children born preterm have greater risk for socioemotional and peer relationship problems than term-born peers. Leisure participation is one factor shown to protect against these difficulties. However, the role of leisure participation after preterm birth remains poorly understood.

Objective: 1) Describe socialization and peer relationship problems, and leisure participation in children born extremely preterm (22–27 weeks) relative to very (28–31 weeks) and moderate/late preterm (32–36 weeks); 2) Identify the extent to which individual factors and leisure participation is associated with peer relationship problems.

Design/Methods: Sample included 763 children born preterm aged 5–18 years (28% extremely, 35% very, 37% moderate/late preterm) recruited through parent organizations. Peer relationship problems were assessed using the parent-rated 5-item subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. High risk of peer relationship problems was defined as age- and sex-specific scores >90th percentile of population norms. Socialization problems and leisure participation were assessed using the parent-rated 37-item Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. Leisure participation was categorized as active (cognitive, social, physical, roles/responsibilities) or passive.

Results: Children born extremely preterm had significantly (p < .05) greater odds than moderate/late preterm for high frequency socialization using technology (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.02–2.15), low frequency socialization with peers outside the classroom (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.14–2.64), low frequency socially active leisure (OR=1.94, 95% CI=1.03–3.67), and low frequency (OR=6.15, 95% CI=1.31–28.77) and involvement (OR=2.45, 95% CI=1.06–5.67) in cognitively active leisure activities. No statistically significant associations were evident for the remaining pairwise comparisons. Children with peer relationship problems were more likely (p < .05) to be older (β=0.10), diagnosed with ADHD (β=2.18), ASD (β=5.73), have speech (β=1.93), or motor impairment (β=2.06), and were more likely to have lower involvement in socially active (β=4.09), physically active (β=3.05), and passive leisure activities (β=4.71).Conclusion(s): Peer relationship problems in the preterm birth population were shown to be associated with a range of individual factors, including lower involvement in leisure activities. The high rates of developmental comorbidities within this population have implications for developing innovative, person-centered strategies and interventions to optimize child outcomes.