Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: This study aimed to establish the associations between lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy with a special focus on low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and behavioral problems in adolescents.Methods: We used a sample of 6,149 German adolescents (11–17 years) from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). To investigate behavioral problems, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was applied.Results: The prevalence of behavioral problems was: 17.0% hyperactivity, 12.0% conduct problems, 13.8% emotional symptoms, 22.2% peer relationship problems, and 11.9% total difficulties score. Simultaneously, 14.1% of the adolescents experienced low-to-moderate PAE. Adjusting for confounders, low-to-moderate PAE resulted in an increased risk of hyperactivity (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.39, Confidence Interval (CI) [1.15, 1.69]) and peer relationship problems (OR 1.20, CI [1.00, 1.44]). Similarly, smoking during pregnancy significantly increased the risk of hyperactivity and peer-relationship problems in adolescent offspring.Conclusions: Low-to-moderate PAE is clearly linked to an increased risk of behavioral problems in adolescent offspring.Abbreviations: ANOVA: One-way-analysis of variance; BMI: Body mass index; CAPI: Computer assisted personal interview; CI: Confidence interval; HPA: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; KiGGS: German health interview and examination survey for children and adolescents; OR: odds ratio; PAE: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure; RKI: Robert Koch Institute; SDQ: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SES: Socioeconomic status; SPSS: Statistical package of social sciences
Submitted Version (
Free)
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call