The goal of this study was to examine differential effects of amount and pattern of prenatal alcohol exposure on child outcome. Alcohol use was assessed at each prenatal visit, and IQ and behavior were measured at age 7 years. After control for confounders, the amount of exposure was unrelated to IQ score and behavior for >500 black 7-year-old children. However, children who were exposed to binge drinking were 1.7 times more likely to have IQ scores in the mentally retarded range and 2.5 times more likely to have clinically significant levels of delinquent behavior. During prenatal care, clinicians should attend not only to amount but also to the pattern of alcohol intake, because of the elevated risk for cognitive deficits and long-term behavioral abnormality.

The present study investigated the relationship between mothers', fathers', and parents' employment stability and five child cognitive and social outcome measures. A total of 179 children who attended Head Start between 1991 and 1995 participated in the study with their parents. Child outcomes were examined to determine if they varied as a function of employment stability categories. Children of parents possessing stable employment histories had significantly higher Woodcock-Johnson broad knowledge cluster scores than children of parents possessing unstable employment histories. Child outcomes generally did not vary as a function of employment stability categories. Number of employment changes was used to predict child outcomes after controlling moderating variables. Number of changes in mothers' and parents' employment accounted for statistically significant amounts of Woodcock- Johnson broad knowledge cluster score variance. Number of employment changes was generally a poor predictor of child outcomes.

The present study investigated the relationship between mothers', fathers', and parents' employment stability and five child cognitive and social outcome measures. A total of 179 children who attended Head Start between 1991 and 1995 participated in the study with their parents. Child outcomes were examined to determine if they varied as a function of employment stability categories. Children of parents possessing stable employment histories had significantly higher Woodcock-Johnson broad knowledge cluster scores than children of parents possessing unstable employment histories. Child outcomes generally did not vary as a function of employment stability categories. Number of employment changes was used to predict child outcomes after controlling moderating variables. Number of changes in mothers' and parents' employment accounted for statistically significant amounts of Woodcock-Johnson broad knowledge cluster score variance. Number of employment changes was generally a poor predictor of child outcomes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-71).