Behavioral outcome of preschoolers exposed prenatally to cocaine: role of maternal behavioral health.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of prenatal cocaine exposure and maternal behavioral health (recent drug use and psychological functioning) on child behavior at age 5 years.


METHODS
In this longitudinal investigation, maternal report of child behavior was assessed using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in 140 cocaine-exposed and 181 noncocaine-exposed (61 alcohol, tobacco, and/or marijuana-exposed, and 120 nondrug-exposed) low-income, African American children. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate suspected causal relationships between indicators of maternal behavioral health at 5-year follow-up, according to self-report on a modified Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and CBCL scores.


RESULTS
Prenatal cocaine exposure was not related to child behavior at age 5. Recent maternal drug use and psychological functioning had relationships with CBCL Internalizing and Externalizing scores. However, when considered within a combined model, only maternal psychological functioning remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings highlight the importance of maternal functioning in the behavioral outcome of children exposed prenatally to cocaine.
Accornero
Veronica H
VH
University of Miami School of Medicine, USA. vaccornero@med.miami.edu
Morrow
Connie E
CE
Bandstra
Emmalee S
ES
Johnson
Arnise L
AL
Anthony
James C
JC
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D003042:Cocaine