Background There is a lack of knowledge about whether preterm birth might lead to a greater susceptibility to early life environmental factors. The aim of this study was to establish the neuropsychological profiles in high- and low-risk preterm samples during adolescence and young adulthood and to assess the potential role of early life environmental factors in cognitive outcomes. Materials and methods Participants (N = 177; Mage=20.11 years) of both sexes were evaluated: 30 high-risk preterm, 83 low-risk preterm, and 64 full-term adolescents and young adults. Results Significant differences were found in several cognitive domains among groups. Further, familial socioeconomic status (SES) moderated the relation between the degree of maturity/immaturity at birth and cognition (F(5,171) = 11.94, p 2 = 0.26). Discussion The findings showed different neuropsychological profiles during adolescence and young adulthood, with the high-risk preterm sample reporting lower values. Additionally, high familial SES background in this study seems to have a protective effect on cognition.
