Adolescent aggression. Prenatal risk factors

Abstract

Background. Numerous studies have shown that the temperament of a child is formed in intrauterine period, and is only corrected after birth. For an unborn baby, the information that it received from the mother is very important. This relates to both the physical and mental health of the baby. The purpose of the work was to find the relationship between aggressive behavior in adolescents and possible prenatal risk factors for its development. Materials and methods. A relational database was created for 1,075 adolescents aged 15–18 years. Such blocks as prenatal (“Your data” and “Pregnancy” questionnaires) and adolescent (“Adolescents of 15–18 years old” questionnaire) were selected. After filling in the questionnaire, the adolescent groups were divided as follows: 425 were aggressive, 439 were non-aggressive. The number of pregnant women filling in the questionnaires was 1,993. Results. According to studies carried out, only 24 % of women assess their health status as “always good”, and this figure decreases significantly in the first months and the last two weeks of pregnancy. Mothers of an aggressive group of adolescents significantly more often complained of insomnia and depression during pregnancy. Also, significantly more often aggressive behavior was inherent in adolescents whose mothers ate by-products (liver, kidneys, heart) more than once a three days. The diet of mothers of adolescents from non-aggressive group included fish much more often. Sedatives were significantly more likely to be used every day by mothers of adolescents from aggressive group. The presence and duration of breast feeding was not significant in the formation of aggression in children in adolescence. Conclusions. The health status, the psychoemotional state, and the nutritional habits of the pregnant woman, as studies have shown, can affect the formation of aggressive behavior in children in the future. Thus, it is important to prevent risk factors or eliminate those that are likely to harm the health of the pregnant woman and her child.

Keywords

• eating behavior
• pregnancy
• adolescent aggression