When Adverse Social Noise Becomes Silent: The Moderating Effects of Benign Social Environments on Prenatal Nicotine Exposure in Predicting Later Life Antisocial Behavior

• In Event: Biosocial Risk Factors and the Development of Criminality

Abstract

Empirical research generally indicates that prenatal maternal smoking predicts later-life outcomes, such as aggression, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior. Comparatively less research has been conducted on the moderating effects of the early social environment on smoking during pregnancy. The current study builds on previous research by examining whether social environments are able to condition the influence of prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke on antisocial behavior. The results indicate that maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly and positively predicts offspring’s delinquency, aggression, and impulsivity in early childhood, but only in the presence of stable family structure, maternal attachment, and an unproblematic birthing process. These results are in line with predictions derived from the “social push” perspective. We conclude by discussing the implications that these findings have on etiological and prevention research focusing on antisocial behaviors.

Authors

• Joshua S. May, Florida State University

• Samuel Scaggs, Florida State University

• Kevin M. Beaver, Florida State University