Low-level Alcohol's Consumption during Pregnancy to Develop Psychological and Behavioral Problems in Children, Study Suggests

Jan, 2021 - By WMR

According to a new research study initiated by the researchers of the University of Sydney have reported to find that even lowest amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy can have negative impact on the brain development of child, which is further linked with greater psychological and behavioral problems such as poor attention, anxiety, and depression in youth. There is no information about any safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

In this study, researchers studied whether any alcohol consumption during pregnancy have negative impact on psychological, neural, behavioral, and cognitive differences in children of age group of 9-10 years. In this study, researcherâ€™s evaluated sample of 9,719 youth to investigate the effects of low-level alcohol use during pregnancy. Moreover, low levels of drinking include one to two drinks per occasion or six drinks per week.

Ms Briana Lees, lead author stated, â€œOur research found that even small amounts of alcohol consumed while pregnant can have a significant impact on a child's brain development. This study shows that any alcohol use during pregnancy, even low levels, is associated with subtle, yet significant behavioral and psychological effects in children including anxiety, depression and poor attention. The vast majority consume one or two standard drinks per occasion which this study shows is enough to impact the baby's brain.â€

Researchers observed that out of the entire samples, 25% of the children were exposed to alcohol in the womb, where 60% of these children were exposed to low-level alcohol use, and 40% were exposed to high level of alcohol consumption including over 3 drinks per occasion or over 7 drinks per week. Furthermore, researchers suggested that children with low level of alcohol exposure in-utero underwent psychological/emotional problems and behavioral problems, in comparison to unexposed children. Children exposed to high alcohol use during early pregnancy exhibited rule breaking behavior and aggression.