Teenagers who were born prematurely have the same self-esteem levels as their peers. Babies are being born prematurely every day, and this can come with some health risks and complications. However, what does this mean for them as they age? Does this continue to affect their lives when they are teenagers and even adults? Previous studies and research has been done, and it is constantly evolving and changing. It was previously believed that teenagers who were born prematurely did not have the same level of self-esteem as their peers who born at term.

According to Science Daily, this belief has been proven wrong based on new research that has been done. New research has shown that teenagers have the same level of self-esteem as their peers, even if they were born well before their due date.

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The research was led by the Universities of Kent and Warwick and it was co-led by Dr. Ayten Bilgin. They looked to dispel the beliefs that teens who were born before 37 weeks gestation had lower academic achievement, more mental health problems, and struggled when it comes to social relationships. The team found that preterm birth has no part to play in the development of a feeling of wellbeing and self-esteem.

When it came to general wellbeing, family, school, and self-esteem in regards to physical appearance, when a baby was born had no impact on the development of these factors. Dr. Bilgin said that this was encouraging news and that they hope that it will impact how future studies are looked at.

Self-esteem is very important to a person’s wellbeing, especially a teenager who is trying to discover their place in the world and their value beyond their relationship with their parents.

Researchers also said that this may indicate that the belief that preterm babies will suffer in/with relationships may be a societal issue. They grow up believing that because they were born early, they will be bullied more and have poorer relationships. They state that supportive friendships and peer relationships in school and extracurricular activities should be made a priority for children who were born prematurely and may be suffering from some of these beliefs and thoughts.

Since this can be seen as a nature vs. nurture situation, and nature has been ruled out, parents and experts must focus on nurture when it comes to building a child’s self-esteem as they age.

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Sources: Science Daily, University of Kent