Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Attachment Behavior in Children

O’Connor, Mary J.; Kogan, Nina; Findlay, Richard

doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2002.tb02460.x

Cited by 91 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…These alcohol-exposed children were living in poverty with their biological mothers, the majority of whom were single parents. With this group of primarily Black non Hispanic motherchild dyads, divided into two PAE groups (abstinent light or moderateheavy), we again found a significant association between alcohol exposure during pregnancy and attachment security [O'Connor et al, 2002a]. Strikingly, 80% of children in the moderateheavy alcohol exposed group displayed attachment behaviors classified as insecure, while only 36% of children in the abstinent-light group showed insecure attachments.…”

Section: Infancy and Early Childhoodmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…These temperamental differences in early infancy may set the stage for maladaptive mother-infant interactions and subsequent socioemotional problems as the child matures. Several of our studies have incorporated this diathesis stress model to explain the relation between PAE and internalizing symptoms in infancy and early childhood [O'Connor et al, 1992;O'Connor and Kasari, 2000;Carmichael Olson et al, 2001;O'Connor, 2001;O'Connor et al, 2002a;O'Connor and Paley, 2006]. For example, in an early study, we examined a low-risk sample of 1-year-old children born to predominantly White non Hispanic, well-educated, middle class, married birth mothers who considered themselves social drinkers [O'Connor et al, 1992].…”

Section: Infancy and Early Childhoodmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychiatric conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

O’Connor¹,

Paley²

2009

Dev Disabil Res Revs

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162

129

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Since the identification of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) over 35 years ago, mounting evidence about the impact of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy has prompted increased attention to the link between prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and a constellation of developmental disabilities that are characterized by physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. These disabilities include a continuum of developmental disorders known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Longitudinal studies suggest that individuals with FASDs are at a greatly increased risk for adverse long-term outcomes, including mental health problems and poor social adjustment. This review summarizes the existing literature on mental health outcomes for individuals with PAE across the lifespan, including findings in infancy and early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence and early adulthood. Research on the psychiatric disabilities suffered by individuals with FASDs throughout development highlights the need for training of mental health professionals in the identification and the provision of specific treatments to address the unique features of this developmental disability since early identification and treatment have been demonstrated to be protective against more serious secondary disabilities. It is hoped that with greater awareness of the mental health problems experienced by individuals with FASDs, these individuals can receive appropriate and early treatment resulting in more adaptive and rewarding lives.

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Section: Infancy and Early Childhoodmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Infancy and Early Childhoodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychiatric conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

O’Connor¹,

Paley²

2009

Dev Disabil Res Revs

Self Cite

162

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a separate higher-risk sample, O'Connor et al found that when children have higher levels of cumulative risk in the larger social context, such as poverty or living with a single parent, this negative developmental trajectory worsens [O'Connor et al, 2002]. Of interest, 80% of children exposed prenatally to alcohol showed insecure attachment (a pivotal developmental feature) while, even in this high-risk sample, only 36% of the nonexposed children displayed attachments rated as insecure.…”

Section: A Developmental Systems Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Family matters:” Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the family

Olson

Oti

Gelo

et al. 2009

Dev Disabil Res Revs

133

122

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Information about ''family matters'' is vital to developing targeted interventions, reducing placement disruption, and enhancing outcome in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The quality of the caregiving environment and family function are associated with long-term outcome in natural history study of individuals with FASD. This article integrates multiple information sources to better understand the role of family factors in the outcome of individuals with FASD, and how the family is affected by raising a child with this lifelong condition. A brief description of the useful informal literature is brought together with a review of the surprisingly limited body of systematic research findings on FASD and caregiver/family function, and new data describing children with FASD and characteristics of their caregivers. Directions for future data-gathering and intervention development emerge from combining what is already known with an exploration of what can be learned from a highly targeted review of family-related data in the wide-ranging, general literature on developmental disabilities, and use of a proposed conceptual framework that joins a developmental systems perspective with a family systems approach.

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“…O'Connor, Sigman, and Kasari (1992) surveyed children of socially drinking mothers and found prenatal alcohol exposure to be related to negative affect at 1 year. Negative affect mediated the influence of prenatal alcohol exposure on the mother-infant interaction (O'Connor, Sigman, & Kasari, 1993), indicating that prenatal alcohol exposure can predispose children to be more irritable, which in turn may have a negative impact on the mother-infant relationship (O'Connor, Kogan, & Findlay, 2002). Among girls, prenatal alcohol exposure and negative affect at 1 year were associated with depressive symptoms at the age of 6 years (O'Connor, 2001).…”

Section: Prenatal Alcohol Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Infant irritability: The impact of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband

Lemola

Stadlmayr

Grob

2009

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband on infant irritability in the first one and a half years of life. Four models describing the interplay of these factors were assessed: A direct effect model, an interaction or threshold model, a mediational model and a transactional model. Method: A sample of initially 458 women was assessed in a prospective 3-wave study across the first 17 months after childbirth. Fetal alcohol exposure was questioned retrospectively six weeks after birth. Infant irritability was reported by the mothers and fathers. Results: Support for the direct effect model and the interaction model could be found: Fetal alcohol exposure and low emotional support from the husband were associated with increased infant irritability at 5 months. The impact of fetal alcohol exposure was moderated by postnatal depressive symptoms. More irritability was reported if both risk factors, prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal depressive symptoms, were present. Infant irritability and maternal depressive symptoms were associated cross-sectionally. At the age of 17 months only a main effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on irritability could be found. Conclusion: Direct effects of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband on infant irritability as well as an interaction between fetal alcohol exposure and maternal depressive symptoms were revealed. The interaction can be understood in terms of a diathesisstress model. However, no longitudinal associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant irritability could be found. Objetivos: La meta de este estudio fue investigar el impacto que el haber estado el feto expuesto al alcohol, los síntomas de la depresión maternal, y el bajo apoyo emocional de parte del esposo tienen sobre la irritabilidad del infante en el primer año y medio de vida. Se evaluaron cuatro modelos que describen el interjuego de estos factores: un modelo de efecto directo, un modelo de interacción o de entrada, un modelo de meditación y un modelo transaccional. Método: Un grupo muestra de 458 mujeres fue evaluado en un estudio de tres etapas futuras a través de los 17 meses después del nacimiento del niño. El haber estado el feto expuesto al alcohol fue investigado retrospectivamente seis semanas después del nacimiento. Las madres y los padres reportaron la irritabilidad del infante. Resultados: Se puede encontrar apoyo para el modelo directo y el modelo de interacción: se asociaron la exposición al alcohol del feto y el bajo apoyo emocional del esposo con el incremento de la irritabilidad del infante a los 5 meses. El impacto de la exposición del feto al alcohol fue moderada por los síntomas depresivos postnatales. Se reportó más irritabilidad si ambos factores de riesgo, la exposición del feto al alcohol y los síntomas de depresión maternal, se encontraban presentes. La irritabilidad del infante y los s...

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Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Attachment Behavior in Children

Cited by 91 publications

References 78 publications

Psychiatric conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

Psychiatric conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

“Family matters:” Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and the family

Infant irritability: The impact of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband

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