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Gestational risks and psychiatric disorders among indigenous adolescents
Les B Whitbeck1, Devan M Crawford
1Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0324, USA. lwhitbeck2@unlnotes.unl.edu
Community Mental Health Journal
|November 11, 2008
Summary
Maternal prenatal substance use and birth complications significantly impact adolescent mental health. These effects on psychiatric disorders persist even after accounting for socioeconomic and parenting factors.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Indigenous Health Research
- Maternal Health and Prenatal Exposures
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to maternal substance use (binge drinking, smoking, drug use) and birth complications are potential risk factors for adverse child development.
- Understanding these risks is crucial for Indigenous populations, who may face unique cultural and socioeconomic challenges.
- Long-term mental health outcomes in adolescents require further investigation regarding prenatal influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between maternal prenatal behaviors and pregnancy/birth complications with psychiatric disorders in Indigenous adolescents.
- To assess these effects across two distinct adolescent age groups (10-12 and 13-15 years).
- To determine if these associations remain significant after controlling for confounding variables.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 546 Indigenous adolescents from the northern Midwest and Canada.
- Assessment of adolescent psychiatric disorders using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-Revised (DISC-R).
- Statistical analysis controlling for adolescent age and gender, family income, household structure, and parenting quality.
Main Results:
- Maternal prenatal binge drinking, cigarette smoking, and drug use were significantly associated with adolescent psychiatric disorders.
- Pregnancy and birth complications also showed a significant link to meeting criteria for psychiatric disorders.
- These effects were observed in both adolescent age groups (10-12 and 13-15 years).
Conclusions:
- Maternal prenatal substance use and adverse birth outcomes are significant predictors of psychiatric disorders in Indigenous adolescents.
- These findings highlight the critical importance of prenatal care and interventions for maternal health.
- Public health strategies should address prenatal risk factors to improve long-term adolescent mental health outcomes in Indigenous communities.
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