Examining the effects of maternal binge-drinking and marijuana use on children’s mental health trajectories: a latent class growth analysis

Abstract

Maternal substance abuse has been shown to adversely affect children’s behavioral development; however, to date, most research has focused on more extreme types of problematic substance use. Using latent class growth modeling to analyze secondary longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4,898), the present study sought to 1) characterize the development of individuals’ externalizing and internalizing behavior trajectories across three distinct developmental periods – early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence; and, 2) explore whether moderate types of maternal substance use (i.e. binge drinking and marijuana use) predict class membership across the trajectories. Findings from Aim 1 revealed heterogeneity in children’s externalizing and internalizing pathways. Aim 2 showed that maternal binge-drinking and marijuana use increased the likelihood of children/adolescents demonstrating borderline and/or clinical externalizing and internalizing trajectories. Specifically, children whose mothers engaged in binge-drinking and/or marijuana use were more likely to experience negative externalizing and internalizing symptom trajectories compared to their peers though the ages at which these behaviors manifest differed across groups. ☐ Together, these findings show that maternal binge-drinking and marijuana use may adversely affect children’s behavioral development though binge-drinking seems to have more detrimental effects. In certain groups, maternal binge-drinking may affect children’s externalizing and internalizing behavior as early as age five, making it extremely important to equip healthcare professionals (i.e. primary care physicians and pediatricians) with the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat maternal SUDs (i.e. via screenings).