Aggressive behavior in preschoolers due to smoking during pregnancy
It seems that there is no end to the adverse health effects of cigarette smoke, especially on children. Just a few days ago, I posted on the behavioral effects of passive smoking on young children with asthma.
Another recent study reports that behavioral problems caused by smoking starts even earlier than previously thought – in the uterus. Previous studies showed that smoking during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight and fetal defects. Now comes this additional risk – violent behavior. The findings were based on data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study and looked at 1,745 preschoolers aged 18 months to three and a half years old. Moms who are heavy smokers, who are younger than 21 and who coerce their kids to behave have a 40% risk of having aggressive children, “aggressive behavior” being defined as hitting, biting, kicking, fighting and bullying others.
Aside from maternal smoking, another parental factor that leads to aggressive behavior in young children are anti-social behavior of the mother as well as lower socio-economic status. Maternal smoking seems to have an aggravating effect on these factors.
A common complaint nowadays is that we live in a very violent society. A common explanation for violent behavior in children and adolescents is TV, the Internet and video games. It looks like parental factors, especially smoking, should also take some of the blame.
Read More
Dawn Allcot says...
Hmmm sounds like there are more factors at play here than just the smoking–like the mothers’ young ages!! I wonder if the researchers studied another group, who didb’t smoke but were under 21 etc.
Sorry but it seems like a lame conclusion for the researchers to draw– not that I’m for smoking during pregnancy–I’m just in favor of valid scientific method!
Melissa H says...
I have to agree with Dawn. Not saying that smoking while your pregnant is good… I find it repugnant actually…. but I am not sure with all of the other factors listed that I understand why the conclusion was drawn that it was smoking that was the culprit.
Science-mom says...
Thanks for the insights, Ladies. Perhaps my summary of the study was insufficient to tell the whole story. In fairness to the researchers, I therefore beg those in doubt to check the original study and the statistics they used to figure out the risk factors.