Laut einer großen Studie an 16.335 US-amerikanischen Kindern im Alter von 1 bis 18 Jahren haben Kinder, die vor der Geburt mütterlicherseits dem Rauchen ausgesetzt waren, ein höheres Risiko für Verhaltensstörungen und psychische Probleme

>The new study sheds light on these questions, examining thousands of children across the U.S. and identifying periods when exposure may be most impactful.

>“These findings show that prenatal nicotine exposure can affect more than just acting-out types of behavior problems—it can influence children’s overall mental health and experiences of both emotional and behavioral problems at the same time,” said Kristine Marceau, PhD, of Purdue University. “Understanding when kids are most vulnerable can help families and healthcare providers provide support at the right time.”

>Researchers analyzed data from 16,335 children ages 1 to 18 from 55 ECHO Cohort Study Sites. Behavioral assessments measured emotional and behavioral symptoms using standardized questionnaires.

>**Key Findings**

>**Widespread Impact:** Children exposed to prenatal smoking were more likely to have multiple mental health or behavioral symptoms at the same time.

>**Critical Windows:** The strongest effects appeared in early childhood (under age 7) and early puberty (ages 9–12).

>**Similar Effects for Boys and Girls:** Both sexes were affected in comparable ways, with slightly higher symptom levels in boys only at ages 13–14.

>**Independent of Family Background:** Associations persisted even after considering family history and other environmental factors, such as maternal age, education, and additional substance exposures.

Paper: [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41936434/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41936434/)