Purpose: Substance abuse in pregnant mothers represents both prenatal and postnatal risks to children's development. Children exposed to opioids and other substances in utero are at a significant risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms after birth, regulatory disturbances in infancy, and developmental difficulties over time. The purpose of this study is to longitudinally examine the neurocognitive and social development of children exposed to prenatal substance exposure, as well as a group of children with mothers who have mental health problems, compared to children without such risk factors. The project's main focus is to study interactions between biological and social factors and identify mechanisms that mediate and moderate the effects of prenatal substance exposure on any developmental challenges observed at 2 and 4 ½ years.
Research Methodology: Three groups of children and their parents are followed from pregnancy to 4 ½ years. 1. Children of parents with substance abuse problems who are also exposed to substances to varying degrees during fetal development. Two comparison groups are used to investigate the specificity of interaction and developmental difficulties in children in this group. 2. Children who are not exposed to prenatal substance exposure but have concerns about their upbringing due to known mental and/or psychosocial problems in their mothers. 3. Children who are neither exposed to substances during fetal development nor have mothers with mental or psychosocial problems. Children's development, regulation, and temperament are observed during the first year of life. At the age of two and 4 ½ years, children's cognitive, motor, and social development is measured. The presence of parental mental health problems and perceived stress in parenting roles are measured repeatedly from pregnancy to when the children are 4 ½ years old. Video recordings of mother-child interactions are conducted four times in the first year of life and later at the age of two and 4 ½ years. At 4 ½ years, children undergo an MRI examination to assess the brain morphometric effects of prenatal substance exposure and upbringing conditions. This examination is carried out in collaboration with Rikshospitalet under the leadership of Professor Kristine Walhovd at the Department of Psychology. Genotyping samples are also taken from both the mother and child.
Practical Significance and Research Implications: By following families from pregnancy with a specific focus on parents with substance abuse issues and comorbid mental health problems, the prognosis for these children may be improved positively. Furthermore, gaining more knowledge about specific factors within the child, the parents, or the child-parent interaction that inhibit or promote these children's development is necessary.