title: Maternal stress and behavioral adaptation in methadone- or buprenorphine-exposed toddlers.
abstract: The current study examined the relationship between early interaction, parenting stress, maternal psychological distress symptoms, and behavior problems and health-related quality of life among children born to mothers in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) in Norway during the period 2005-2007 (N = 36). This group was compared with a normative sample of mothers without substance abuse problems and their children (N = 36). There were significant group differences (p < .01) in perceived child problems in toddlerhood. In a regression model, mothers' self-reported psychological distress symptoms in terms of depression and anxiety symptoms significantly predicted child behavior problems (p < .01) and health-related quality of life (p < .01) rather than parenting stress. No significant, unique effect of exposure was found after controlling for other factors that could influence developmental outcomes. These findings add to the growing evidence on the importance of maternal psychological well-being for child development, and underscore the need to address opioid-maintained women's personal maladjustment and the constellation of stress experienced by mothers in recovery.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.m.sarfi@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarfi
authors.forename: Jon Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sundet
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone
keywords: Behavior problems; Buprenorphine; Children; Health-related quality of life; Methadone; Parenting stress; Prenatal exposure