Intrauterine growth and infant temperamental difficulties: the Generation R Study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether intrauterine growth trajectories are associated with temperamental difficulties in infancy.


METHODS
The Generation R Study is a population-based cohort study from fetal life onward. Size at different time points during gestation and growth trajectories, calculated on the basis of repeatedly measured fetal growth characteristics, were related to temperamental dimensions, assessed with the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, in 3,792 infants age 6 months.


RESULTS
Birth weight, adjusted for gestational age, was negatively associated with activity level and duration of orienting. These associations disappeared after additional adjustment for maternal height, age, educational level, and national origin. Similarly, the negative associations between intrauterine total body weight gain and falling reactivity and activity level diminished after correction for maternal and child characteristics. After full adjustment, reduced fetal weight gain was only related to prolonged duration of orienting. Children scored 0.38 (95% confidence interval 0.09-0.68) points higher on duration of orienting per SD decrease in total body weight gain from mid-pregnancy to birth.


CONCLUSIONS
After controlling for several genetic and socioeconomic status related factors, we found little indication of an association between intrauterine growth trajectories and temperamental difficulties in infants.
Roza
Sabine J
SJ
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
VAN Lier
Pol A C
PAC
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Jaddoe
Vincent W V
VWV
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Steegers
Eric A P
EAP
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Moll
Henriette A
HA
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Mackenbach
Johan P
JP
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Hofman
Albert
A
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Verhulst
Frank C
FC
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Tiemeier
Henning
H
Drs. Roza and Jaddoe are with the Generation R Study Group; Drs. Roza, Verhulst, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Drs. Jaddoe, Hofman, and Tiemeier are with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Drs. Jaddoe and Moll are with the Department of Pediatrics; Dr. Steegers is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dr. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health; and Dr. van Lier is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.. Electronic address: h.tiemeier@erasmusmc.nl.
D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013694:Temperament; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal