Romantic and Sexual Relationships of Young Adults Born Very Preterm: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

Aim

To compare romantic and sexual relationships between adults born very preterm (VP; <32 weeks of gestation) or with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) and at term, and to evaluate potential biological and environmental explanatory factors among VP/VLBW participants.

Methods

This individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis included longitudinal studies assessing romantic and sexual relationships in adults (mean sample age ≥ 18 years) born VP/VLBW compared with term-born controls. Following PRISMA-IPD guidelines, 11 of the 13 identified cohorts provided IPD from 1606 VP/VLBW adults and 1659 term-born controls. IPD meta-analyses were performed using one-stage approach.

Results

Individuals born VP/VLBW were less likely to be in a romantic relationship (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.31–0.76), to be married/cohabiting (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53–0.92), or to have had sexual intercourse (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.09–0.36) than term-born adults. If sexually active, VP/VLBW participants were more likely to experience their first sexual intercourse after the age of 18 years (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.24–3.01) than term-born adults. Among VP/VLBW adults, males, and those with neurosensory impairment were least likely to experience romantic relationships.

Conclusions

These findings reflect less optimal social functioning and may have implications for socioeconomic and health outcomes of adults born VP/VLBW.