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Maternal Cigarette Smoking during Pregnancy and Child Aggressive Behavior
Author(s) -
Brook David W.,
Zhang Chenshu,
Rosenberg Gary,
Brook Judith S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490600998559
Subject(s) - pregnancy , obstetrics , medicine , cigarette smoking , environmental health , biology , genetics
This study's objective was to examine the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood aggressive behavior in African‐American and Puerto Rican children, as well as the relationship between maternal unconventional behavior, low maternal affection, and offspring aggression. Participants consisted of African‐American and Puerto Rican children ( n = 203; mean age = 8.6, SD = 0.87) and their mothers living in an inner city community. An interview consisting of a structured questionnaire was administered to the mothers and their children. Scales with adequate psychometric properties were adapted from previous validated measures. They included maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal education, unconventionality, and warmth. Controlling for demographic factors, maternal unconventional behavior, and low maternal warmth, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with having offspring who were aggressive. Maternal unconventionality and warmth were independently related to childhood aggression. Although causal limitations are noted, it may be that a decrease in smoking during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in aggression in the offspring.