Citation

Bennett DS, Marini VA, Berzenski SR, Carmody DP, Lewis M. J. Pediatr. Psychol. 2013; 38(3): 296-308.

Affiliation

Drexel University College of Medicine, University of Vermont, University of California at Riverside, and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jss117

PMID

23248347

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) predicts externalizing problems in late childhood. METHODS: Externalizing problems were assessed using caregiver, teacher, and child ratings and a laboratory task when children (N = 179; 74 cocaine exposed) were aged 8-10 years. PCE, environmental risk, sex, neonatal health, other prenatal exposures, and foster care history were examined as predictors of externalizing problems. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses indicated that PCE, environmental risk, and male sex explained significant variance in externalizing problems in late childhood. Models varied by source of information. PCE predicted externalizing problems for child laboratory behavior and interacted with sex because males with PCE reported more externalizing problems. PCE did not predict caregiver or teacher ratings of externalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of PCE on externalizing problems may persist into late childhood. The findings highlight the potential importance of including child-based measures of externalizing problems in studies of prenatal exposure.

Language: en