Adolescent risk-taking as a function of prenatal cocaine exposure and biological sex. 2014

Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
Department of Psychology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: jedediahwpallen@gmail.com.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure and biological sex on adolescent risk-taking while controlling for early environmental risk. METHODS Adolescents (n=114, mean age=16) were grouped according to high and low risk-taking propensity as measured by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Prenatal cocaine exposure was assessed at birth, while environmental risk was assessed at three points during early childhood. RESULTS A binary regression analysis indicated that males were 3.5 times more likely than females to be high risk-takers. Biological sex and prenatal cocaine exposure interacted such that exposed males were most likely to be high risk-takers while exposed females were the least likely to be high risk-takers. This pattern held after controlling for prenatal alcohol exposure and early environmental risk. Early environmental risk did not predict adolescent risk-taking. CONCLUSIONS These findings complement and extend earlier research demonstrating that prenatal cocaine exposure interacts with biological sex in domains related to inhibitory control, emotion regulation, antisocial behavior, and health risk behaviors during preadolescence.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011297 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH. Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D003042 Cocaine An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake. Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D004777 Environment The external elements and conditions which surround, influence, and affect the life and development of an organism or population. Environmental Impact,Environmental Impacts,Impact, Environmental,Impacts, Environmental,Environments
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D012309 Risk-Taking Undertaking a task involving a challenge for achievement or a desirable goal in which there is a lack of certainty or a fear of failure. It may also include the exhibiting of certain behaviors whose outcomes may present a risk to the individual or to those associated with him or her. Risk Behavior,Behavior, Risk,Behaviors, Risk,Risk Behaviors,Risk Taking

Related Publications

Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
December 2007, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
April 2013, Journal of pediatric psychology,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
April 2016, Drug and alcohol dependence,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
May 1998, Brain research,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
January 2011, Neurotoxicology and teratology,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
January 2006, Journal of pediatric psychology,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
January 2015, Neurotoxicology and teratology,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
June 2013, Pediatrics,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
December 2006, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
Jedediah W P Allen, and David S Bennett, and Dennis P Carmody, and Yiping Wang, and Michael Lewis
July 2001, JAMA,
Copied contents to your clipboard!