Level of prenatal cocaine exposure and infant-caregiver attachment behavior.
The objective of this longitudinal prospective cohort study was to determine whether level of prenatal cocaine exposure, or the interaction between level of prenatal cocaine exposure and contextual risk variables, was associated with a higher rate of infant-caregiver insecure attachment and disorganized attachment, or with alterations in infant crying or avoidant behavior, after controlling for prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, the quality of the proximal caregiving environment, and other covariates. Subjects were 154 full-term 12-month-old infants (64 unexposed, 61 with lighter cocaine exposure, 29 with heavier cocaine exposure) and their primary caregivers from low-income, urban backgrounds. Exposure status was determined in the maternity ward by biologic assay (infant meconium and/or maternal or infant urine) and maternal self-report. At the 12-month follow-up visit, infants were videotaped with their primary caregiver in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Reliable coders masked to exposure status scored videotapes for attachment variables, amount of crying, and level of avoidance. Contrary to popular perceptions, level of prenatal cocaine exposure was not significantly related to secure/insecure attachment status, disorganized attachment status, or rated level of felt security. Foster care status also was not associated with attachment status. However, heavier prenatal cocaine exposure, in interaction with maternal contextual variables (public assistance or multiparity) was associated with alterations in infant socio-affective behavior, including a higher level of behavioral disorganization, more avoidance of the caregiver, and less crying.
Beeghly
Marjorie
M
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA. marjorie.beeghly@tch.harvard.edu
Frank
Deborah A
DA
Rose-Jacobs
Ruth
R
Cabral
Howard
H
Tronick
Edward
E
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003448:Crying / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D014743:Videotape Recording
D003042:Cocaine