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Younger mothers are more likely to engage in risky drinking during and after pregnancy

Date:
August 23, 2017
Source:
Research Society on Alcoholism
Summary:
People tend to adjust behaviors across their lifespans as they adopt new roles – such as marriage or parenting – that are incompatible with prior behaviors. The transition to parenthood appears to be particularly relevant for women, leading to a reduction in alcohol consumption. This study of maternal alcohol use is the first to focus on age at transition to motherhood as a predictor of trajectories of risky drinking during a 17-year span.
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People tend to adjust behaviors across their lifespans as they adopt new roles -- such as marriage or parenting -- that are incompatible with prior behaviors. The transition to parenthood appears to be particularly relevant for women, leading to a reduction in alcohol consumption. This study of maternal alcohol use is the first to focus on age at transition to motherhood as a predictor of trajectories of risky drinking during a 17-year span.

Researchers recruited 456 pregnant women, ages 13 to 42 years, at an urban prenatal clinic. The women (64% African-American, 36% White) were interviewed about alcohol use during pregnancy, at delivery, and again at six, 10, 14, and 16 years postpartum.

The majority of mothers (66%) were identified as having low-risk trajectories of alcohol use during the 17-year span. However, maternal age at first birth predicted one high-risk group: younger mothers were more likely to engage in risky drinking early in pregnancy, which continued for six to 14 years postpartum. The authors suggest that these results can help physicians target mothers who are likely to exceed national guidelines calling for abstinence during pregnancy, and no more than seven drinks per week during postpartum.


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Materials provided by Research Society on Alcoholism. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Natacha M. De Genna, Lidush Goldschmidt, Michael Marshal, Nancy L. Day, Marie D. Cornelius. Maternal Age and Trajectories of Risky Alcohol Use: A Prospective Study. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2017; DOI: 10.1111/acer.13451

Cite This Page:

Research Society on Alcoholism. "Younger mothers are more likely to engage in risky drinking during and after pregnancy." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 August 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823185327.htm>.
Research Society on Alcoholism. (2017, August 23). Younger mothers are more likely to engage in risky drinking during and after pregnancy. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823185327.htm
Research Society on Alcoholism. "Younger mothers are more likely to engage in risky drinking during and after pregnancy." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170823185327.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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