Study cautions children may engage in criminal activities if mum smokes during pregnancy

A study suggests mothers who have been taking cigarettes during pregnancy may have children with criminal behaviour later in life. The Australian Institute of Family Studies found fighting, truancy and destruction of property were most commonly committed by children among 12- and 13-year-olds.

The study, considered as the first to investigate the delinquent behaviour of the children in that age group, said under 10 percent of boys and girls were involved in criminal acts. Dr Ben Edwards of the Australian Institute stated the delinquent behaviour of the children may be linked with the effect of smoking during pregnancy to the neurobehavioral development.

"There is some research that suggests it's associated with the neurobehavioral development suggesting that sort of ADHD or attention hyperactivity disorders at greater levels," Edwards said. The study, according to Edwards, is the first to have identified the effect of pregnancy smoking to the neurobehavioral development of children.

The research team, after surveying about 5,000 families, have discovered children living in less-affluent areas were not more likely to commit crimes, while less than 10 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds have gone through stealing, damaging property, skipping school and fighting. "One in four boys [was] engaged in fighting in the previous year and about 8 percent of girls… there are some weapons that are involved,” Edwards said.

The study also found mothers who took liquors during pregnancy were less likely to have children who were engaging in criminal delinquent behaviour, while mothers smoking during pregnancy are significant in having children with delinquent behaviour.

However, Edwards said a child at risk from a smoking mother did not necessarily go on to commit crimes as “significant peer problems and higher levels of harsh parenting were also associated with high levels of criminal behaviour." The researchers concluded that the criminal behaviour is not a destiny.

Two in five children who are at risk were identified as not involved in criminal delinquent behaviour, while one in five children who were not considered at risk was involved in criminal delinquent behaviour. Edwards stated the study aims for a public health campaign for parents to be aware and also to support children in terms of regulating their behaviours is part of the solution.

Aside of the possible delinquent behaviour, mothers’ smoking during pregnancy is commonly associated with many adverse outcomes for children, such as premature birth, low birthweight, stillbirth and infant mortality, as well as with negative consequences for subsequent health and development. However, the current proportion of women smoking during pregnancy has dropped substantially since the 1990s, from almost 20 percent in 1989 to nine percent in 2013, according to Child Trends Data Bank.

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