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. 2008 Nov-Dec;79(6):1761-76.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01224.x.

Fetal substance exposure and cumulative environmental risk in an African American cohort

Chie Yumoto  1 , Sandra W Jacobson, Joseph L Jacobson
Affiliations

Fetal substance exposure and cumulative environmental risk in an African American cohort

Chie Yumoto et al. Child Dev. 2008 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Two models of vulnerability to socioenvironmental risk were examined in 337 African American children (M = 7.8 years) recruited to overrepresent prenatal alcohol or cocaine exposure: The cumulative risk model predicted synergistic effects from exposure to multiple risk factors, and the fetal patterning of disease model predicted that prenatal insult will increase vulnerability to environmental risk. Four or more risks emerged as a threshold for poorer cognitive and behavioral outcome among the non-substance-exposed children, whereas substance-exposed children showed greater vulnerability to lower levels of environmental risk. Cumulative risk was associated with increased delinquent and internalizing behaviors only for the substance-exposed group. Results support the cumulative risk model for non-substance-exposed children and increased vulnerability to environmental risk among the substance-exposed group.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean Verbal IQ score as a function of a number of risk factors in non-exposed and exposed groups. Numbers in parentheses are sample sizes for each subgroup. Vertical lines depict standard errors of the means. *p < .05 based on LSD post hoc test for 3 vs. 4 or more risk factors in non-exposed group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean Performance IQ score as a function of a number of risk factors in non-exposed and exposed groups. Numbers in parentheses are sample sizes for each subgroup. Vertical lines depict standard errors of the means.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean TRF Delinquent Behavior score as a function of a number of risk factors in non-exposed and exposed groups. Numbers in parentheses are sample sizes for each subgroup. Vertical lines depict standard errors of the means. *p < .01 based on LSD post hoc test for 3 vs. 4 or more risk factors in non-exposed group and for 2 vs. 3 risk factors in exposed group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean TRF Internalizing Problem score as a function of a number of risk factors in non-exposed and exposed groups. Numbers in parentheses are sample sizes for each subgroup. Vertical lines depict standard errors of the means. *p < .05 based on LSD post hoc test for 3 vs. 4 or more risk factors in non-exposed group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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