The Impact of Prematurity on Social Understanding (IPSU)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Impact of Prematurity on Social Understanding (IPSU)
IRAS ID
265040
Contact name
Caroline Richards
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Support Group
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 7 days
Research summary
Preterm birth (<37 weeks) adversely affects development in behavioural, cognitive and mental health domains. Heightened rates of autism are identified in preterm populations, indicating prematurity may confer risk for delayed/divergent social cognition, social understanding and social competency. Current findings indicate that being born early may affect the development of social understanding; however, this has not been confirmed experimentally. Using play-based tasks and eye-tracking methods we aim to describe the profile of social abilities in a cohort of children born preterm. We will use data gathered to inform intervention priorities for children born preterm.
The data generated by this research is hoped to inform obstetric decision making, whilst the wider study aims to highlight opportunities enhance current knowledge and increase quality of life amongst those born preterm.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0282
Date of REC Opinion
25 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion