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Light drinking during pregnancy : still no increased risk for socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age?

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Kelly, Yvonne, Sacker, Amanda, Gray, Ron, Kelly, John, Wolke, Dieter, Head, Jenny and Quigley, Maria A.. (2010) Light drinking during pregnancy : still no increased risk for socioemotional difficulties or cognitive deficits at 5 years of age? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Vol.66 (No.1). pp. 41-48. ISSN 0143-005X

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Abstract

Background This study examines the relationship between light drinking during pregnancy and the risk of socioemotional problems and cognitive deficits at age 5 years.

Methods Data from the nationally representative prospective UK Millennium Cohort Study (N=11 513) were used. Participants were grouped according to mothers' reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy: never drinker; not in pregnancy; light; moderate; heavy/binge. At age 5 years the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and British ability scales (BAS) tests were administered during home interviews. Defined clinically relevant cut-offs on the SDQ and standardised scores for the BAS subscales were used.

Results Boys and girls born to light drinkers were less likely to have high total difficulties (for boys 6.6% vs 9.6%, OR=0.67, for girls 4.3% vs 6.2%, OR=0.69) and hyperactivity (for boys 10.1% vs 13.4%, OR=0.73, for girls 5.5% vs 7.6%, OR=0.71) scores compared with those born to mothers in the not-in-pregnancy group. These differences were attenuated on adjustment for confounding and mediating factors. Boys and girls born to light drinkers had higher mean cognitive test scores compared with those born to mothers in the not-in-pregnancy group: for boys, naming vocabulary (58 vs 55), picture similarities (56 vs 55) and pattern construction (52 vs 50), for girls naming vocabulary (58 vs 56) and pattern construction (53 vs 52). Differences remained statistically significant for boys in naming vocabulary and picture similarities.

Conclusions At age 5 years cohort members born to mothers who drank up to 1–2 drinks per week or per occasion during pregnancy were not at increased risk of clinically relevant behavioural difficulties or cognitive deficits compared with children of mothers in the not-in-pregnancy group.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Pregnant women -- alcohol use, Cognition disorders in children, Emotional problems of children
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health
Publisher: BMJ Group
ISSN: 0143-005X
Official Date: 5 October 2010
Volume: Vol.66
Number: No.1
Page Range: pp. 41-48
Identification Number: 10.1136/jech.2009.103002
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number: RES-596-28-0001 (ESRC)
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URI: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3695

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