Morningness propensity in young adults born prematurely: the Helsinki study of very low birth weight adults.
The authors explored morningness-eveningness propensity in adults born prematurely at very low birth weight (VLBW;  < 1500g) and in controls born at term. At age 21 to 29 yrs, 184 participants completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Compared with controls, VLBW adults scored higher in morningness propensity (group difference: 2.8 scores, 95% confidence interval: 0.1 to 5.5; p = .042). This finding was confined to those VLBW adults whose birth weight was not small for gestational age, and remained similar when adjusting for age, sex, and working conditions. The finding is potentially important, since morningness is associated with beneficial health outcomes.
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. sonja.strang@helsinki.fi
Sonja
S
Strang-Karlsson
Eero
E
Kajantie
Anu-Katriina
AK
Pesonen
Katri
K
Räikkönen
Petteri
P
Hovi
Jari
J
Lahti
Kati
K
Heinonen
Anna-Liisa
AL
Järvenpää
Johan G
JG
Eriksson
Sture
S
Andersson
E Juulia
EJ
Paavonen
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult