Is a Distressed Birth Associated With Physical and Mental Health Problems as an Adult?: Evidence From Panel Data.

Background: A considerable amount of research has examined the short-term health outcomes associated with distressed births. Most studies have focused on the survival of the newborn, health complications, and medical care utilization. Comparatively little research has considered the longer-term physical and mental health outcomes of distressed births that survive into adulthood.

Objectives: The primary objective is to determine whether 3 common types of distressed births-low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission-are significantly related to physical (ie, self-reported overall health status, number of chronic health conditions) and mental (ie, number of mental health disorders) health among young and middle-aged adults.

Subjects: Respondents to Waves IV (2008-2009; N=15,701) and V (2016-2018; N=12,300) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) provide the data for our research.

Research design: Our empirical approach estimates numerous multivariate regression models for Waves IV and V separately, and mixed-effects models for both waves combined. Each subgroup (LBW, preterm delivery, and NICU admission) was analyzed separately in comparison to those without a distressed birth.

Results: All 3 distressed birth measures are negatively and significantly ( P <0.05) associated with physical and mental health status in adulthood.

Conclusions: The primary implication is that clinicians, public health advocates, and policy makers at all levels of government can use these findings to secure additional resources for the prevention of future distressed births. Prevention initiatives can include teenage family planning, prenatal checkups and related care, and incentives for healthy behaviors during pregnancy.