Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2014 Aug;55(2):167-74.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.12.032. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

Self-reported adolescent behavioral adjustment: effects of prenatal cocaine exposure

Meeyoung O Min  1 , Sonia Minnes  2 , Susan Yoon  2 , Elizabeth J Short  3 , Lynn T Singer  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Self-reported adolescent behavioral adjustment: effects of prenatal cocaine exposure

Meeyoung O Min et al. J Adolesc Health. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the direct effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on adolescent internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems, controlling for confounding drug and environmental factors.

Method: At 12 and 15 years of age, 371 adolescents (189 PCE and 182 noncocaine exposed), primarily African-American and of low socioeconomic status, participating in a longitudinal, prospective study from birth were assessed for behavioral adjustment using the Youth Self-Report.

Results: Longitudinal mixed model analyses indicated that PCE was associated with greater externalizing behavioral problems at ages 12 and 15 years and more attention problems at age 15, after controlling for confounders. PCE effects were not found for internalizing behaviors. PCE adolescents in adoptive/foster care reported more externalizing and attention problems than PCE adolescents in biological mother/relative care at age 12 or noncocaine-exposed adolescents at both ages. No PCE by gender interaction was found. Prenatal marijuana exposure, home environment, parental attachment and monitoring, family conflict, and violence exposure were also significant predictors of adolescent behavioral adjustment.

Conclusions: PCE is a risk factor for poor behavioral adjustment in adolescence.

Keywords: Adolescents; Attention; Behavior; Prenatal cocaine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Externalizing behavior (YSR) by level of PCE at 12 and 15 years with significant mean difference between the NCE group and the heavier PCE group at both 12 and 15 year (p’s<.04). The mean scores were adjusted for covariates listed in Table 3. Significant time effect for NCE (p=.0003) and Heavier PCE (p=.003).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Bada HS, Das A, Bauer CR, et al. Impact of prenatal cocaine exposure on child behavior problems through school age. Pediatrics. 2007;119(2):e348–59. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-1404. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Minnes S, Singer LT, Kirchner HL, et al. The effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on problem behavior in children 4–10 years. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2010;32(4):443–451. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2010.03.005. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bada HS, Bann CM, Bauer CR, et al. Preadolescent behavior problems after prenatal cocaine exposure: Relationship between teacher and caretaker ratings (maternal lifestyle study) Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2011;33(1):78–87. doi: 10.1016/j.ntt.2010.06.005. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bennett DS, Marini VA, Berzenski SR, Carmody DP, Lewis M. Externalizing problems in late childhood as a function of prenatal cocaine exposure and environmental risk. J Pediatr Psychol. 2013;38(3):296–308. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jss117. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Thompson BL, Levitt P, Stanwood GD. Prenatal exposure to drugs: Effects on brain development and implications for policy and education. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009;10(4):303–312. doi: 10.1038/nrn2598. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms