Is smoking during pregnancy a risk factor for psychopathology in young children? A methodological caveat and report on preschoolers.
OBJECTIVE
While studies of the effects of prenatal smoking on child psychopathology have found positive relationships, most studies (1) failed to control for a range of correlates of maternal smoking that could affect children's behavior; (2) have been conducted with school-age rather than younger children, so it is not clear when such problems emerge; and (3) have not examined the effects on internalizing problems.


METHODS
This study examined the effects of prenatal smoke exposure on behaviors associated with externalizing and internalizing behavior problems and negative temperament in a diverse community sample of 679 4-year-olds.


RESULTS
After controlling for correlates that include socioeconomic status, life stress, family conflict, maternal depression, maternal scaffolding skills, mother-child attachment, child negative affect and effortful control, smoking during pregnancy was no longer associated with child behavior or emotional problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Future studies need to control for a wide range of covariates of maternal smoking.
Lavigne
John V
JV
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith, Child Health Research Program, Children's Memorial Research Center, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. jlavigne@childrensmemorial.org
Hopkins
Joyce
J
Gouze
Karen R
KR
Bryant
Fred B
FB
LeBailly
Susan A
SA
Binns
Helen J
HJ
Lavigne
Paul M
PM
D000339:Affect; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013694:Temperament