A primed pump: The accumulation of maternal stressful life events affects toddler self-regulation at 24 months

BACKGROUND: It is unknown how the 9/11 attacks affected toddler self-regulation in the context of preconception stressful life events (PSLEs). This study examined: 1) if and to what extent women's PSLEs moderated the effect of in utero exposure of 9/11 on toddler self-regulation; and, 2) if these relationships were stronger closer to the epicenter of the attacks.

METHODS: Data are from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Birth Cohort, a nationally-representative cohort of women who gave birth to a live baby in 2001. Toddler self-regulation was assessed using the Bayley Behavior Rating Scale. To determine if PSLEs moderated the effect of 9/11 on child self-regulation at 24 months, we used multivariate linear regression, controlling for covariates. We restricted this analysis to examine these relationships in the Northeast.

FINDINGS: We found no effect of 9/11 on toddler self-regulation; further PSLEs did not moderate the effect of 9/11 on self-regulation. However, in the Northeast, toddlers who were exposed in utero to 9/11 and whose mothers who were exposed to PSLEs resulted in decreased toddler self-regulation (â= -0.17, 95% CI: -0.22 - -0.13).

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal exposure to PSLEs increased children's vulnerability to in utero exposure to 9/11 in the Northeast region of the U.S. Events such as 9/11 represent critical periods in which interventions for vulnerable women and children living near the epicenter are essential in preventing deleterious intergenerational outcomes. Poor self-regulation is associated with lower educational attainment, decreased earnings and poor coping skills, leaving children with fewer resources to draw upon.