Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6826-5943

Date Available

1-10-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Advisor

Dr. Michelle Martel

Abstract

Objective

Prenatal exposure to common substances, including nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and alcohol, has been linked to a wide range of psychiatric disorders and neurodevelopmental impairments. Identifying protective factors that may improve temperament profiles in toddlers who have experienced prenatal substance exposure may protect against these adverse outcomes and is crucial for developing targeted early interventions.

Methods

Participants (n=92; Mage = 28.7 years; 47.0% White) were biological mothers of toddlers (Mage = 22.6 months) with prenatal substance exposure. Mothers responded to an online survey that gathered information on substance use during pregnancy, proposed perinatal protective factors, and child temperament. General linear models and binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk and protective factors as predictors of toddlerhood temperament.

Results

Results reveal that more frequent prenatal exposure to central nervous system depressant drugs is associated with both lower surgency and higher negative affect in toddlers. More frequent exposure to central nervous stimulant drugs was also associated with higher negative affect. Conversely, increased neonatal engagement (e.g., frequency of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, soothing touch/stroking) and higher maternal warmth were significant protective factors linked to higher surgency and lower negative affect in toddlers. Demographic characteristics, including child’s sex and ethnicity, were also significantly associated with temperament outcomes.

Conclusion

Findings support the significant impact of prenatal substance exposure on toddler temperament and highlight the importance of perinatal parenting skills in fostering better developmental outcomes. These results highlight the potential utility of tailored prenatal interventions aimed at promoting skills related to neonatal engagement and parenting skills in mothers who have used depressant or stimulant substances during pregnancy. Improving toddlerhood temperament outcomes may mitigate risk of long-term psychiatric problems.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.536

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