Poster #18 - Prenatal Substance Exposure and Environmental Risk Influences on Codeveloping Internalizing and Externalizing Trajectories

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

Background: Early behavior problems might set children on a course towards maladaptive outcomes. While the literature has primarily examined internalizing (IP) and externalizing problem (EP) domains as independent constructs, evidence suggests they codevelop, making it important to model the associations between the two developmental trajectories. Moreover, in identifying risks for behavior problems, some frameworks have focused on the role of prenatal exposures (e.g., prenatal substance exposure [PSE]; Werboff & Gottlieb, 1963), while others have primarily examined the effects of broader postnatal environmental risks (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998). In contrast, other frameworks suggest that the postnatal environment interacts with biological predispositions (Belsky & Pluess, 2009). Objectives: To address gaps in the literature, we first examined codeveloping trajectories of IP and EP from toddler age through early school age in a sample of children at risk due to high levels of prenatal and postnatal adversities. Second, we tested whether cumulative environmental risk interacted with PSE (PSExENVR) in predicting the trajectories. Method: 216 diverse caregiver-child dyads (74% Black; 71% receiving federal assistance; 60% single) were recruited at birth into a longitudinal study. Mothers were oversampled for prenatal cocaine use with demographically similar mothers who did not use cocaine but may have used other substances. PSE was measured via a combination of self-reported use of cocaine, tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol (Sobell et al., 1986) and biological samples. Child behavior problems were assessed via caregiver reports (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) every six months (18 – 60 months). Cumulative environmental risk was computed from self-report measures of caregiver psychological functioning, exposure to violence, postnatal substance use, and caregiving instability assessed every six months (1 – 60 months). We used parallel-process piecewise latent growth curve modeling to address our aims. Results: A parallel bilinear model fit the data well (Fig. 1). There were significant individual differences in intercepts and slopes in both domains. We found two distinct phases of change in behavior problems, with no significant change in IP or EP during toddlerhood (18 – 36 months), followed by significant decreases in EP and no growth in IP during the preschool period (36 – 60 months). Whereas higher initial levels of IP were associated with a decline in IP during toddlerhood, higher initial levels of EP were associated with a decline in EP during preschool years. There were significant positive cross-domain associations in initial levels and change across time. There were also significant PSExENVR effects on change in IP during toddlerhood and change in IP and EP during preschool ages. Among children at high environmental risk, as PSE increased, there was less decrease or more increase after 36 months (Fig. 2). Discussion: Despite increased risk due to prenatal and postnatal adversities, on average, children followed normative developmental trajectories of stable IP and decreasing EP across early childhood, with significant variability. However, children who were exposed to higher levels of PSE and environmental risk experienced less adaptive levels of IP and EP during the preschool ages. Results highlight the importance of considering both codeveloping trajectories and risk factors for targeted preventions.

Authors

• Miglena Yordanova Ivanova, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Presenting Author

• Danielle Marie Seay, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

• Junru Zhao, University at Buffalo

• Pamela Schuetze, State University of New York Buffalo State University

• Rina Das Eiden, The Pennsylvania State Univeristy