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Maternal IQ, child IQ, behavior, and achievement in urban 5-7 year olds

Aimin Chen1, Donald Schwarz, Jerilynn Radcliffe

  • 1Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina 27709, USA.

Pediatric Research
|February 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Higher child intelligence (IQ) is linked to fewer behavior problems, regardless of maternal IQ. This study challenges previous findings suggesting a correlation between higher IQ and increased behavioral issues in children of mothers with intellectual disabilities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment
  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Previous research suggested a link between higher child IQ and more behavior problems in families with maternal intellectual disability.
  • This finding lacked replication and had potential implications for clinical practice.
  • The study setting, similar to childhood lead exposure, prompted a replication attempt.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate and investigate the relationship between child IQ and behavior problems in the context of maternal intellectual disability.
  • To examine if children of mothers with intellectual disability are at higher risk for behavioral issues if they have higher IQs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Treatment of Lead-Exposed Children (TLC) study, including 780 children aged 12-33 months with elevated blood lead levels.
  • Analyzed data from 656 mothers with measured IQ, identifying 113 with intellectual disability (IQ <70).
  • Assessed child cognitive and behavioral outcomes using standardized tests (Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised, Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, Behavioral Assessment System for Children) up to age 7.

Main Results:

  • Children with higher IQ (≥85) demonstrated more favorable cognitive and behavioral ratings than those with lower IQ (<85), irrespective of maternal IQ.
  • Among children of mothers with intellectual disability (IQ <70), those with higher IQ did not exhibit more severe or multiple behavior problems.
  • Higher child IQ was consistently associated with fewer behavioral problems.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood IQ is inversely related to behavior problems, independent of the mother's intellectual capacity.
  • Children of mothers with intellectual disability and higher IQs are not at increased risk for behavioral problems.
  • Findings suggest that higher cognitive function in children may be protective against behavioral issues, even in challenging family environments.

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