Examining the Effect of Household Pesticide Exposure on Infants' Temperament and Children's Behavioural and Emotional Problems

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Examining the Effect of Household Pesticide Exposure on Infants' Temperament and Children's Behavioural and Emotional Problems
Language: English
Authors: Alexis Hernandez (ORCID 0000-0001-5015-1905), Ixel Hernandez-Castro, Tingyu Yang (ORCID 0000-0002-2438-9159), Genevieve F. Dunton, Shohreh Farzan, Carrie Breton, Theresa Bastain, Santiago Morales
Source: Infant and Child Development. 2025 34(5).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (DHHS/NIH)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) (DHHS/NIH)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Contract Number: 836158010
P50ES026086
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Poisoning, Hazardous Materials, Child Development, Infants, Personality Traits, Behavior Problems, Emotional Problems, Correlation, Predictor Variables, Affective Behavior, Child Health, Child Behavior
Geographic Terms: California (Los Angeles)
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Child Behavior Checklist, Rothbart Infant Behavior Questionnaire
DOI: 10.1002/icd.70058
ISSN: 1522-7227
1522-7219
Abstract: Few studies have examined the developmental pathways linking early pesticide exposure to children's socioemotional problems. Infant temperament is an important early indicator of socioemotional development and may be influenced by early environmental contaminants. However, no study to date has examined the association between household pesticide exposure and temperament in relation to later socioemotional problems. The current study examined the association between early exposure to household pesticides and infants' temperament, and if temperament mediated the link between early pesticide exposure and later socioemotional problems. Results revealed that greater early pesticide exposure predicted higher infant negative affectivity, which in turn predicted more internalizing and total problems in childhood. We observed indirect effects between greater early household pesticide exposure and higher internalizing and total problems through negative affectivity. Our results build on existing literature that highlights the need to find alternatives to household pesticides during sensitive periods to support healthier socioemotional development.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1487272
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Few studies have examined the developmental pathways linking early pesticide exposure to children's socioemotional problems. Infant temperament is an important early indicator of socioemotional development and may be influenced by early environmental contaminants. However, no study to date has examined the association between household pesticide exposure and temperament in relation to later socioemotional problems. The current study examined the association between early exposure to household pesticides and infants' temperament, and if temperament mediated the link between early pesticide exposure and later socioemotional problems. Results revealed that greater early pesticide exposure predicted higher infant negative affectivity, which in turn predicted more internalizing and total problems in childhood. We observed indirect effects between greater early household pesticide exposure and higher internalizing and total problems through negative affectivity. Our results build on existing literature that highlights the need to find alternatives to household pesticides during sensitive periods to support healthier socioemotional development.
ISSN:1522-7227
1522-7219
DOI:10.1002/icd.70058