Moral maturity and delinquency after prenatal alcohol exposure.
OBJECTIVE
Prenatal exposure to alcohol is associated with cognitive, behavioral and social deficits, including delinquency. Although delinquent populations and those with intellectual and behavioral deficits exhibit impaired moral judgment and reasoning, this area remains unexplored in alcohol-exposed individuals.


METHODS
Moral maturity and delinquency were evaluated in 27 participants with prenatal alcohol exposure (ALC group) and 29 nonexposed controls (CON group) matched on age (range: 10-18), gender, handedness, socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Moral maturity was evaluated using the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form, and delinquency was evaluated with the Conduct Disorder (CD) Questionnaire. Additional measures included social desirability and inhibition.


RESULTS
The ALC group performed at a lower level of moral maturity than the CON group. Whereas Verbal IQ primarily predicted this difference, a deficit on the moral value judgment having to do with relationships with others was specific to prenatal alcohol exposure. Furthermore, delinquency was higher in the ALC group, and specific sociomoral values were predictive of delinquent behavior. Finally, half of the children and adolescents with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure but without fetal alcohol syndrome had probable CD.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that interventions aimed at reducing delinquency in those with prenatal alcohol exposure are necessary, and targeting moral judgment for this purpose may be beneficial.
Schonfeld
Amy M
AM
Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA. aschonfeld@mednet.ucla.edu
Mattson
Sarah N
SN
Riley
Edward P
EP
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D035863:Moral Development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000431:Ethanol