SynthesisJournal of youth and adolescence2025
Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in Children and Adolescents Born Preterm or Low Birth Weight: A Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of youth and adolescence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mental health outcomes in young adolescents born preterm reveal the need for earlier screening.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2026Article
- Executive function and implications for the Preterm Behavioral Phenotype in very preterm children at age 9-10 years.Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Preterm and low birth weight infants are at heightened risk for psychological and behavioral problems, yet prior meta-analyses have narrowly examined specific abnormalities, limiting insight into the broader development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This meta-analysis aimed to address this gap by estimating the magnitude of these risks compared to full-term infants. Searches were conducted in five databases: Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PubMed. Fifty-six studies were identified, with symptoms assessed from childhood (0-9 years) through adolescence (10-18 years) and into adulthood. Findings showed that preterm infants and low-birth-weight infants as a whole are more likely to experience internalizing symptoms (such as anxiety or depression) and externalizing symptoms (such as impulsivity or aggression) than full-term infants, though this risk is neither uniform or absolute-the risk of internalizing symptoms among low-birth-weight infants is relatively modest. Additionally, there are several clear moderating factors influencing the intensity of these risks. Regionally, the association between both types of symptoms and preterm birth or low birth weight is most pronounced in European samples. In terms of developmental stages, internalizing behaviors are more prominent in adolescent populations, whereas the risk of externalizing symptoms is higher in children. Regarding the severity of preterm birth and low birth weight, the association between both symptoms and these conditions is strongest in samples of extremely preterm infants or those with extremely low birth weight. This study advances understanding of the risks of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in preterm or low-birth-weight infants across different developmental stages, while revealing the potential impacts of region, age, and the severity of risk factors in this context.
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Registered trials
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