Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Children's cognitive-behavioral functioning at age 6 and 7: prenatal drug exposure and caregiving environment

Prasanna Nair1, Maureen M Black, John P Ackerman

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md., USA. pnair@peds.umaryland.edu

Ambulatory Pediatrics : the Official Journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association
|May 27, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal drug exposure (PDE) did not significantly impact cognitive or academic outcomes when adjusted for environmental factors. However, males consistently underperformed females across multiple cognitive-behavioral measures.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Prenatal drug exposure (PDE) is a significant concern impacting child development.
  • The interplay between PDE, caregiving environment, and child outcomes requires further investigation.
  • Longitudinal studies are crucial for understanding the long-term effects of PDE.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prenatal drug exposure (PDE) and cognitive, academic, and behavioral performance in children aged 6-7.
  • To examine the influence of the caregiving environment on these outcomes.
  • To control for confounding variables such as gender and socioeconomic status.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study followed 111 children with PDE and 62 controls (N=173).
  • Cognitive and academic abilities were assessed using standardized tests (SB-IV, WRAT-3).
  • Caregiver-reported behavior problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), with adjustments for various environmental factors.

Main Results:

  • After adjusting for perinatal and environmental factors, no significant differences in cognition, academic performance, or behavior were found between exposed and non-exposed groups.
  • Females outperformed males on overall IQ, several cognitive subtests, reading achievement, and exhibited fewer behavioral problems.
  • No significant gender-by-group interactions were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Most associations between PDE and cognitive-behavioral functioning were attenuated when perinatal and environmental variables were controlled.
  • Males consistently showed poorer performance than females across multiple cognitive-behavioral indices, irrespective of drug exposure.
  • Both exposed and non-exposed children came from low-income backgrounds and scored below normative expectations, highlighting broader socioeconomic influences.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice04:20

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes05:13

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Published on: February 28, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...