The Limited Effects of Obstetrical and Neonatal Complications on Conduct and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Middle Childhood

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a wide range of obstetrical and neonatal complications as well as socioeconomic variables on the behaviors characterized by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Method Data were collected on 7–8 year old twins, using multiple instruments assessing many areas of individual and family functioning. The influence of several aspects of prenatal care, labor and delivery, and early life were considered as well as indicators of socioeconomic status such as family income and maternal education. Results The observed associations were stronger for ADHD than CD symptoms and stronger for females than males. Family income and gender significantly predicted both behavioral outcomes, while birthweight predicted ADHD symptoms only. However, the presence of ADHD and conduct symptom behaviors were not associated with an occurrence of more obstetrical or neonatal complications as indicated by hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses. Conclusions By school age, behavioral problems related to inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, defiance, and conduct are relatively unaffected by general adversity in the neonatal and perinatal periods.

A Biopsychosocial and Long Term Perspective on Child Behavioral Problems : Impact of Risk and Resilience

“…Pregnancy and birth-related factors were hypothesized to have a more pronounced impact on behavioral problems at age 3. The present finding was in line with studies by Silva et al (2014) and Wagner et al (2009) showing limited effects of obstetrical and neonatal complications on externalizing problems (Silva et al, 2014;Wagner et al, 2009). At the same time, many studies have found support for developmental and behavioral consequences of pregnancy and birth complications (Bhutta et al, 2002;Marceau et al, 2013).…”

“…Pregnancy and birth related complications thus may lead to an increased vulnerability due to altered brain functions during this very sensitive period in life. Previous studies on perinatal factors in relation to mental health in childhood, however, have come to different conclusions (Bhutta, Cleves, Casey, Cradock, & Anand, 2002;Wagner, Schmidt, Lemery-Chalfant, Leavitt, & Goldsmith, 2009). For example, preterm birth has been shown to increase the risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Marceau et al, 2013), but there are studies demonstrating the opposite (Heinonen et al, 2010).…”

Estimating the Roles of Genetic Risk, Perinatal Risk, and Marital Hostility on Early Childhood Adjustment: Medical Records and Self-Reports

“…A recent meta-analysis of 18 studies found only weak associations between low birth weight and later psychological distress (Wojcik, Lee, Colman, Hard, & Hotopf, 2013). However, additional studies have found that low birth weight is linked to child behavior problems and ADHD (e.g., Hultman et al, 2007; Wagner, Schmidt, Lemery-Chalfant, Leavitt, & Goldsmith, 2009), and emotional problems (Breslau et al, 1996; Hultman et al, 2007; Indredavik, Vik, Heyerdahl, Kulseng, & Brubakk, 2005; McCormick, Workman-Daniels, & Brooks-Gunn, 1996; Mick, Biederman, Faraone, Sayer, & Kleinman, 2002; van Os et al, 2001). …”

Measured Gene-by-Environment Interaction in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…For pre- and peri-natal factors, it remains unclear how long those effects persist in development. Outcomes appear to be sufficiently influenced by subsequent events that, by the time a child reaches school age, main effects of mild to moderate perinatal insults are difficult to detect 22. The same mechanisms also may render it difficult to show interaction effects.…”