Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy and child behavioral problems in five birth cohorts

Abstract

Introduction Previous studies have reported associations between prenatal cell phone use and child behavioral problems, but findings have been inconsistent and based on retrospective assessment of cell phone use. This study aimed to assess this association in a multi-national analysis, using data from three cohorts with prospective data on prenatal cell phone use, together with previously published data from two cohorts with retrospectively collected cell phone use data. Methods We used individual participant data from 83,884 mother-child pairs in the five cohorts from Denmark (1996–2002), Korea (2006–2011), the Netherlands (2003–2004), Norway (2004–2008), and Spain (2003–2008). We categorized cell phone use into none, low, medium, and high, based on frequency of calls during pregnancy reported by the mothers. Child behavioral problems (reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire or Child Behavior Checklist) were classified in the borderline/clinical and clinical ranges using validated cut-offs in children aged 5–7 years. Cohort specific risk estimates were meta-analyzed. Results Overall, 38.8% of mothers, mostly from the Danish cohort, reported no cell phone use during pregnancy and these mothers were less likely to have a child with overall behavioral, hyperactivity/inattention or emotional problems. Evidence for a trend of increasing risk of child behavioral problems through the maternal cell phone use categories was observed for hyperactivity/inattention problems (OR for problems in the clinical range: 1.11, 95%CI 1.01, 1.22; 1.28, 95%CI 1.12, 1.48, among children of medium and high users, respectively). This association was fairly consistent across cohorts and between cohorts with retrospectively and prospectively collected cell phone use data. Conclusions Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for behavioral problems, particularly hyperactivity/inattention problems, in the offspring. The interpretation of these results is unclear as uncontrolled confounding may influence both maternal cell phone use and child behavioral problems.

Effect of Maternal Sleep, Physical Activity and Screen Time during Pregnancy on the Risk of Childhood Respiratory Allergies: a Sex-specific Study

“…Previous studies exploring the effect of lifestyle during pregnancy on the long-term health of children largely focused on the neurological and behavioral development. [29][30][31][32] A rodent model found that maternal lack of sleep in the third trimester can impair autonomic responses in male offspring with a long-term effect. 29 Cohort data among 83,884 mother-child pairs from ve countries revealed that maternal cellphone use during pregnancy increased the risk of hyperactivity in their offspring.…”

Association Between Maternal Exposure to Magnetic Field Nonionizing Radiation During Pregnancy and Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort

“…Emerging human studies have begun to report that maternal exposure to MF nonionizing radiation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of several childhood illnesses, including immune-related conditions (such as asthma), 9 obesity, 10 and neurologic conditions (such as ADHD). 11,12 An experimental study 13 provided further evidence of (1) the direct link between in utero exposure to MF nonionizing radiation and ADHD in offspring and (2) a potential mechanism linking in utero exposure of MF nonionizing radiation with ADHD through altered neuronal developmental programming. Additional evidence from experimental animal studies has also recently been reported.…”

Effect of Maternal Sleep, Physical Activity and Screen Time during Pregnancy on the Risk of Childhood Respiratory Allergies: a Gender-specific Study

“…26 Cohorts data from 83,884 mother-child pairs from five countries revealed that maternal cellphone use during pregnancy increased the risk of hyperactivity in their offspring. 27 Another two prospective studies found that adequate physical activity during pregnancy could promote language development in children. 28,29 This study, for the first time, focused on maternal lifestyle choice and the susceptibility of childhood allergic disease.…”