Maternal smoking and offspring inattention and hyperactivity: results from a cross-national European survey

Gölitz D (2015)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Pages Range: 919–929

Journal Issue: 8

URI: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25413602

DOI: 10.1007/s00787-014-0641-9

Abstract

Introduction: In utero exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes; the association with later childhood mental health outcomes remains controversial. We used a strategy involving comparison of maternal and paternal smoking reports in a sample pooling data from six diverse European countries. Methods: Data were drawn from mother (N=4,517) and teacher (N=4,611) reported attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in school children aged 6 to 11 in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands, surveyed in 2010. Mothers report on self and husband's smoking patterns during the pregnancy period. Logistic regression used with control covariates including demographics, maternal distress, live births, region, and post-pregnancy smoking. Results: In unadjusted models, maternal prenatal smoking was associated with probable ADHD based on mother (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.79, 95{\%} Confidence Interval (C.I.) 1.42-2.25), teacher (OR=1.71, 95{\%} C.I. 1.35-2.17) and mother plus teacher (OR=1.52, 95{\%} C.I. 1.05, 2.21) report. Paternal prenatal smoking was similarly associated with probable ADHD in unadjusted models. When controlled for relevant confounders, maternal prenatal smoking remained a risk factor for offspring probable ADHD based on mother (OR=1.82, 95{\%} C.I. 1.25-2.67), teacher (OR=1.62, 95{\%} C.I. 1.10-2.40) and combined mother-teacher report (OR=1.86, 95{\%} C.I. 0.99-3.49, p=0.05), whereas the effect of paternal prenatal smoking diminished (e.g., combined mother-teacher report: OR=1.09, 95{\%} C.I. 0.75-1.61). Discussion: Drawing on data from a diverse set of countries across Europe, we document that the association between maternal smoking and offspring ADHD is stronger than that of paternal smoking during the pregnancy period and offspring ADHD. To the extent that confounding is shared between parents, these results reflect a potential intrauterine influence of smoking on ADHD in children.

Authors with CRIS profile

How to cite

APA:

Gölitz, D. (2015). Maternal smoking and offspring inattention and hyperactivity: results from a cross-national European survey. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 8, 919–929. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0641-9

MLA:

Gölitz, Dietmar. "Maternal smoking and offspring inattention and hyperactivity: results from a cross-national European survey." European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 8 (2015): 919–929.

BibTeX: Download