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Published on: December 14, 2014
Early fetal binge alcohol exposure predicts high behavioral symptom scores in 5.5-year-old children
Astrid Alvik1, Odd O Aalen, Rolf Lindemann
1Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Unit, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Early pregnancy binge alcohol consumption, even before pregnancy recognition, significantly predicts higher behavioral and emotional difficulties in children. Avoiding binge drinking when planning pregnancy is crucial for child development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are linked to neurobehavioral deficits.
- Binge alcohol exposure early in pregnancy is a significant concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if binge drinking before pregnancy recognition predicts high symptom scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in children at 5.5 years old.
Main Methods:
- A population-based longitudinal study in Oslo, Norway, involving 1,116 participants.
- Questionnaires administered during pregnancy, postpartum, and at child age 5.5 years.
- Logistic and multiple regression analyses to identify predictors of high SDQ scores and direct effects.
Main Results:
- Binge alcohol exposure (≥5 standard units per occasion) between weeks 0-6 of pregnancy predicted abnormal/borderline SDQ scores at 5.5 years.
- Exposure ≥1 time/week significantly increased risk for high scores on Total, Emotional, and Conduct problems (3-5 fold increase).
- Higher binge alcohol intake (≥8 SUpo) showed stronger prediction; early exposure had a direct effect on SDQ Total score.
Conclusions:
- Binge drinking up to 4 weeks post-conception has a direct, strong predictive effect on children's SDQ symptom scores.
- Results emphasize the critical importance of avoiding binge drinking during early pregnancy and when planning pregnancy.
Background:
Fetal binge alcohol exposure has been associated with neurobehavioral and cognitive symptoms. This study explored whether binge drinking mainly before recognition of pregnancy predicted high symptom scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in 5.5-year-old children.
Methods:
In a population-based, longitudinal study representative of pregnant women in Oslo, Norway, questionnaires were answered at 17 and 30 weeks of pregnancy, 6 months after term, and at child age 5.5 years (n = 1,116, constituting 66% of the original cohort). Logistic regression analyses identified factors predicting high SDQ scores, and multiple regression analyses identified direct effects on the SDQ Total.
Results:
Binge exposure (≥5 standard units per occasion [SUpo]) during pregnancy week 0 to 6, that is, 0 to 4 weeks after conception, predicted scores in the Abnormal and Borderline range on the SDQ in 5.5-year-olds, after adjusting for other confounding variables. Very early binge exposure less often than once a week predicted high symptom scores on the SDQ Total (p = 0.05) and Hyperactivity/Inattention (significant), while exposure at least once a week demonstrated a 3- to 5-fold significant increase in high symptom scores on Total, Emotional, and Conduct problems. Reporting ≥8 SUpo had stronger predictive power than reporting 5 to 7 SUpo. The results were not explained by participants reporting major lifetime depression. Other predictive factors, although weaker, were maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety during the child's infancy. High education (mother and father), high income (maternal partner), higher child birth weight, and child female sex reduced the likelihood of high SDQ symptom scores. Path analysis demonstrated early binge exposure to have a direct effect on the SDQ Total score.
Conclusions:
Binge drinking up to 4 weeks after conception had a strong and direct predictive effect on SDQ symptom scores in 5.5-year-olds. These results strongly support the advice to avoid binge drinking when planning pregnancy.
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