Exposure to Pre- and Perinatal Risk Factors Partially Explains Mean Differences in Self-Regulation between Races.

J C Barnes,Brian B Boutwell,J Mitchell Miller,Norman White,Rashaan A Deshay,Kevin M Beaver,Tao (Tony) Duan

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141954

Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine whether differential exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors explained differences in levels of self-regulation between children of different races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other).MethodsMultiple regression models based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n ≈ 9,850) were used to analyze the impact of pre- and perinatal risk factors on the development of self-regulation at age 2 years.ResultsRacial differences in levels of self-regulation were observed. Racial differences were also observed for 9 of the 12 pre-/perinatal risk factors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that a portion of the racial differences in self-regulation was explained by differential exposure to several of the pre-/perinatal risk factors. Specifically, maternal age at childbirth, gestational timing, and the family’s socioeconomic status were significantly related to the child’s level of self-regulation. These factors accounted for a statistically significant portion of the racial differences observed in self-regulation.ConclusionsThe findings indicate racial differences in self-regulation may be, at least partially, explained by racial differences in exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors.

Highlights

Self-regulation—which can been defined as the regulation of the self by the self [1]—is a human phenotype that has a pronounced influence on a wide range of outcomes across the entire life course
Multiple regression analyses revealed that a portion of the racial differences in self-regulation was explained by differential exposure to several of the pre-/perinatal risk factors
Maternal age at childbirth, gestational timing, and the family’s socioeconomic status were significantly related to the child’s level of self-regulation. These factors accounted for a statistically significant portion of the racial differences observed in self-regulation

Summary

Introduction

Self-regulation—which can been defined as the regulation of the self by the self [1]—is a human phenotype that has a pronounced influence on a wide range of outcomes across the entire life course. The inability to regulate one’s attention in early childhood is a harbinger of maladaptive and problematic outcomes later in life [2,3,4,5,6]. Children who have problems with self-regulation are, for example, more likely to develop and manifest behavioral problems, to display signs of conduct disorder, and to have difficulties in forging social relationships [3, 7,8]. The available literature suggests self-regulation is an important trait that has consistent and wide-sweeping effects on a number of human complex traits

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Conclusion