Abstract

Children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) experience a range of adverse outcomes that impact multiple domains of functioning, including cognitive, physical, mental health, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and learning. To inform tailored clinical intervention, the current study examined the relation between caregiver-reported cognitive skills (executive function; EF) and adaptive functioning. The study conducted a secondary analyses of data provided by caregivers of 87 children and adolescents (aged 5–18 years, M = 11.7; 52% male) with confirmed PAE, including a subset (n = 70) with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), who reported on their child’s EF (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function) and adaptive function (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, 2nd Edition) skills. Findings from the current study showed that caregivers reported significantly poorer EF and adaptive functioning skills for children with PAE as compared to normative samples. Poorer behavior regulation skills were associated with all aspects of adaptive functioning (i.e., practical, conceptual, and social skills). Specifically, shifting skills emerged as the best predictor of adaptive functioning among children with PAE. These results highlight the possibility that targeting particular EF domains among individuals with PAE may benefit behavior regulation, which may also extend to adaptive skills. This highlights the need to develop EF interventions for children and adolescents who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol.

摘要

产前酒精暴露 (PAE) 的儿童会经历一系列影响多个功能领域的不良后果，包括认知、身体、心理健康、行为、社会情感、沟通和学习。为了为量身定制的临床干预提供信息，目前的研究检查了护理人员报告的认知技能（执行功能；EF）和适应性功能之间的关系。该研究对 87 名 确诊 PAE的儿童和青少年（年龄 5-18 岁， M = 11.7；52% 男性）的看护者提供的数据进行了二次分析，包括一个子集（ n = 70) 患有胎儿酒精谱系障碍 (FASD)，他们报告了他们孩子的 EF（执行功能行为评定量表）和适应性功能（适应性行为评估系统，第 2 版）技能。当前研究的结果表明，与标准样本相比，护理人员报告的 PAE 儿童的 EF 和适应性功能技能明显较差。较差的行为调节技能与适应性功能的所有方面（即实践、概念和社交技能）相关。具体来说，转换技能成为 PAE 儿童适应功能的最佳预测指标。这些结果强调了针对 PAE 个体的特定 EF 域可能有益于行为调节的可能性，这也可能扩展到适应技能。