Growth, development and behaviour in adolescents born small-for-gestational-age

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects on adolescents of being born small-for-gestational-age (SGA).

Methodology: The sample are members of a cohort longitudinal study in which growth, cognitive development and behaviour are being studied into adulthood. Ninety-one SGA subjects were available for comparison with the rest of the sample (n = 1037) on measures of height, weight, head circumference, cognitive performance and behavioural variables to the age of 18 years old.

Results: SGA subjects were shorter and lighter at 18 years of age than their appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) counterparts despite age of onset of menarche being the same in both groups. At age 13, SGA subjects scored significantly lower than the AGA group on the WISC-R scales. They were rated by parents as having more behaviour problems at age of 15.

Conclusions: SGA birth appears to be a potential problem which extends beyond childhood in its effects on growth, behaviour and cognitive performance.