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Premature babies are more likely to have withdrawn personalities, according to a new study.

Lead researcher Professor Dieter Wolke at the department of psychology and Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, found that adults born very premature were more likely to display signs of autism. 

"Personality characteristics are very important because they help people to develop into adult roles and form and maintain social relationships. Very premature and very low birth weight adults who have a socially withdrawn personality might experience difficulty dealing with social relationships with their peers, friends and partners," Wolke said in a news release.

The latest study involved data from 200 adults born between 1985 and 1986 were born either very premature or with very low birth weight. 

"Previous studies have found they are more likely to be bullied at school and less likely to progress to university or attain well paid employment. They are also less likely to form social contacts, to maintain romantic relationships and to have children," Wolke said. 

"Defining a general personality profile is important because this higher order personality factor may help to partly explain the social difficulties these individuals experience in adult roles, such as in peer and partner relationships and career," he concluded.

The findings are published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal & Neonatal Edition.