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Prenatal cocaine exposure: an examination of childhood externalizing and internalizing behavior problems at age 7

Veronica H Accornero1, James C Anthony, Connie E Morrow

  • 1Perinatal Chemical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Program, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA. vaccornero@med.miami.edu

Epidemiologia E Psichiatria Sociale
|April 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal cocaine exposure did not show an association with behavior problems in 7-year-old children, according to parent reports. Further research should include other informants like teachers for a comprehensive understanding.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental consequences of prenatal substance exposure.
  • Child psychology and behavioral assessment.

Background:

  • Prenatal cocaine exposure is a significant concern with potential long-term effects on child development.
  • Previous research suggests possible links between prenatal substance use and later behavioral issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prenatal cocaine exposure and parent-reported child behavior problems at age 7.
  • To determine if cocaine exposure in utero is associated with externalizing or internalizing behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 407 African-American children, including 210 cocaine-exposed and 197 non-exposed.
  • Prenatal cocaine exposure assessed via maternal self-report and bioassays at delivery.
  • Child behavior problems measured at age 7 using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) completed by primary caregivers.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant association was found between prenatal cocaine exposure status or level and child behavior problems.
  • Structural equation and GLM/GEE models did not support a link to CBCL Externalizing, Internalizing scores, or subscale scores.

Conclusions:

  • Parent-reported data at age 7 do not support the hypothesis of cocaine-associated behavioral problems in children with in utero exposure.
  • Future research should incorporate standardized ratings from additional informants, such as teachers and self-reports from older children.
Abstract

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