Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 30, 2025

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

86.1K

Latent Class Analysis of Prenatal Substance Exposure and Child Behavioral Outcomes

Sarah E Maylott1, Elisabeth Conradt1, Monica McGrath2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC; Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|May 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to licit or illicit substances is linked to increased behavioral problems in children. Both types of prenatal polysubstance use showed adverse child outcomes, highlighting the need for further research.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Substance Abuse Research

Background:

  • Prenatal substance use is a significant concern impacting child development.
  • Understanding the specific behavioral outcomes associated with different types of prenatal substance exposure is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify distinct patterns (latent classes) of prenatal substance use.
  • To predict behavioral disruptions in middle childhood based on these identified prenatal substance use patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
  • Harmonized prenatal substance use and child behavior data from 2195 mother-child pairs across 10 US cohorts.
  • Employed latent class-adjusted regression models to analyze parent-rated child behavior in children aged 6-11 years.

Main Results:

  • Identified three latent classes of prenatal substance use: low use (90.5%), licit use (6.6%), and illicit use (2.9%).
  • Children exposed to licit substances in utero exhibited significantly higher externalizing behaviors (P=.001, d=.64).
  • Children exposed to illicit substances showed significant elevations in internalizing behaviors (P<.001, d=.16).

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal polysubstance use, whether licit or illicit, is associated with increased risk for specific childhood problem behaviors.
  • Childhood outcomes were comparably adverse for both licit and illicit polysubstance exposures.
  • Emphasizes the necessity for large-scale, multicohort studies to further investigate childhood outcomes linked to prenatal substance use profiles.
Abstract

Keywords:
behavior problemschild developmentlatent profile analysisopioid useprenatal substance use

More Related Videos

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats11:01

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats

Published on: December 14, 2014

9.8K
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

296

Related Concept Videos

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs01:23

Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs

Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
435
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....
133
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding01:25

Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding

Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
132
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.5K
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K