Posted on 07/14/2006 9:22:53 AM PDT by presidio9
A new study finds that unborn babies regularly exposed to cigarette smoke in the womb are much more likely to have behavioral problems as young children.
The study, detailed in current issue of the journal Child Development, is the first to show a link between smoking during pregnancy and child behavior problems in the first years of life.
The researchers found that 2-year-olds whose mothers were exposed to cigarette smoke while pregnant were nearly 12 times more likely to show clinical levels of behavioral problems compared to their unexposed peers.
The researchers looked at 93 children between their first and second birthdays. Forty-four were exposed to cigarette smoke before birth; among those exposed, nearly half of their mothers reported smoking more than half a pack a day.
As any parent will tell you, behavioral problems in toddlers are nothing new. There is even a name for itthe "terrible twos." But the behavior of toddlers exposed to cigarette smoke got progressively worse between 18 and 24 months of age compared to unexposed toddlers.
In psychology, symptoms of disruptive behavior include aggression, irritability, rule breaking and poor social skills. The exposed toddlers were significantly more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and stubbornly refuse following directions. They were also less likely to seek out and socially interact with their mothers.
The one symptom that the exposed toddlers did not exhibit was increased irritability. This is important, the researchers say, because different components of disruptive behavior reflect functioning within different parts of the brain.
"By pinpointing which behaviors are involved, it sets the stage for the next set of studies which can more precisely characterize the relevant behaviors and their associated brain regions in exposed children," said study leader Lauren Wakschlag of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Wakschlag and her colleagues previously found a link between prenatal smoking and antisocial behavior in older youth. The new study suggests that for some children, the roots of their behavioral problems might occur before they are born.
While the study supports the theory that smoking can lead to long-term problems later in life, Wakschlag cautions that it does not prove it.
"However, our findings do move us one step closer to answering this question by generating ideas regarding what areas of the brain might be affected by exposure," she said.
Are you implying that all those of us in our 40s and 50s had irresponsible parents, because the predominant number of us were born to mothers who smoked?
The prevalence of smoking has declined drastically since the mid 60s, yet there seem to be far more behavioral problems among children of today than of that era.
I have long believed that. I've had far too much first hand, in person, experience with these people to not.
That blob in the womb becomes a toddler? And it matters what the woman carrying the blob does to it?
I don't smoke, but I'm 100% on your guys side here.
That being said, I work across the street from Ground Zero. The air is pretty bad to begin with down here, what with the ridiculous congestion of taxis, buses and 17,000 arabs selling hotdogs, shish-kabobs, falaffel, and indeterminate "food" items. Today it is again over 90 degrees with high humidity. In other words there is no air. Its hard to breathe. So, it sort of does get on my nerves that I have to go through the final cloud of smokers every time I enter and exit the building. Why do you people feel like you have to stand two feet from the door? Of course this could be solved if they allowed offices to have smoking rooms, but until they do, if it isn't raining, why not move ten or fifteen feet away and let the non smokers through. It might cut down a tiny fraction of the hostility.
That was my first reaction, too. =^)
Please read my comments in post #50.
I always hated (and was my worst subject) statistics in College
Me too. The only class I had to repeat. I got a D and Florida State did not allow a D so I took it again with the same professor immediately and I think he pitied me and gave me a C-.
Anyway, the more important question is when did these MF'er start calling a baby in the womb a baby? I hate them because they never call it a baby except when it pleases their position. I have no respect for these folks AT ALL!!!! I know hate is a strong word and could be a sin, but I will risk it over the murderers!!!!!
I believe the mother's around.
Very little was known about the dangers of cigarette smoking during pregnancy back when people now in their 40s/50s were in the womb. Now that plenty is known, and cigarette packages carry warnings, and obstetricians make sure their patients are aware of the dangers, it really is only irresponsible women who smoke during pregnancy. While (as I noted) this "study" offers no evidence whatsoever for a causative effect of in utero smoke exposure on subsequent behavioral traits, other types of harm to a fetus caused by maternal smoking is well-documented.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/293/10/1286
This is where non-scientists (and crappy scientists) often get into trouble. It's easy to confuse cause and effect.
It might be that what is implied here is true. It might also be that mothers and/or fathers of these kids were themselves unruly toddlers, and the same characteristic that made them unruly made them more likely to smoke. Then they had children who shared their traits.
In other words the smoking might be the result of the "unruly" characteristic, rather than the cause of it.
Without a much more careful study, there is no way to tell.
We appreciate it.
I worked at 1 Wall Street (corner of Broad and Wall across from Trinity Church) back in the day when we could smoke in our offices and most of in my office did smoke.
As a native NYer, I'm fully aware of everything else you describe.
In nearly 30 years of working I have never had the misfortune of working in a non-smoking environment, however I do understand both the position of the smokers, and the non-smokers, when it comes to the smokers outside the entrance to buildings. Unfortunately it is completely the fault of the non-smokers who insisted there be no breakrooms for smokers in the buildings and then scream when the smokers do take their breaks to have a smoke.......the smokers don't have the time on their limited breaks to walk too very far away.
If they are ever allowed back inside, and eventually I believe they will, all the problems will be solved.
Now with that said, my husband and I and our (typical) 8 year old are on our way out for the afternoon to meet up with friends and their kids. The establishment where we will be spending the afternoon is family friendly, smoker friendly and sits right on the water on beautiful Chincoteague Island, VA.
I will pick this up when we return...y'all have a pleasant afternoon.
It's a wonder any of my generation are still alive and lucid.
The first time I went to the dentist, circa 1954, the dentist polished a penny, coated it with nice shiny mercury and handed it to me.
I put it in my pocket and carried it around for days.
My leg swelled up under my pocket and I got some cream to apply.
Can you imagine what would happen if that happened today?
What with lead paint, leaded gasoline, nitrites, oleo margarine, lard, sugar, cigarette smoke-first and second hand, suntans, arsenic laced pest poisons, DDT and on and on, it's a wonder the human race is still here.
Oh, and artificial coloring
These poor guys are all going to be unemployed when the last pregnant women goes smoke-free.
Thank you for calling me an irresponsible woman..........I appreciate your insults.
how can they determine it is ONLY tobacco smoke, and not other types of smoke that men women and children breathe in on a daily basis?
For that matter, what makes us think it is only smoke? Perhaps it has more to do with the genetically engineered food we consume, or the additives that are now so prominent in all our food? What's in those additives anyway?
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