Abstract
Aim
To test the effect of folic acid supplements taken throughout pregnancy on children's psychosocial development.
Method
A randomised controlled trial of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, with parental rating using the Resiliency Attitudes and Skills Profile (RASP), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Child Short Form (TEIQue‐CSF). Children aged 6–7 whose mothers received folic acid throughout pregnancy (n = 22) were compared to those whose mothers only received it during the first trimester (n = 17).
Results
Children whose mothers received the full‐term supplement scored significantly higher on emotional intelligence and resilience. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified folate level at 36th gestational week as an important predictor of emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience.
Conclusion
Although conclusions must be drawn with caution, this research presents a number of potential implications, the main one being a proposed policy recommendation for women to take folic acid for the duration of pregnancy rather than stopping at the end of the first trimester. The second is the potential for future research to explore the possible psychological and social development benefits and in line with this to try and identify the explanatory mechanism involved.
To test the effect of folic acid supplements taken throughout pregnancy on children's psychosocial development.
Method
A randomised controlled trial of folic acid supplementation in pregnancy, with parental rating using the Resiliency Attitudes and Skills Profile (RASP), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Child Short Form (TEIQue‐CSF). Children aged 6–7 whose mothers received folic acid throughout pregnancy (n = 22) were compared to those whose mothers only received it during the first trimester (n = 17).
Results
Children whose mothers received the full‐term supplement scored significantly higher on emotional intelligence and resilience. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified folate level at 36th gestational week as an important predictor of emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience.
Conclusion
Although conclusions must be drawn with caution, this research presents a number of potential implications, the main one being a proposed policy recommendation for women to take folic acid for the duration of pregnancy rather than stopping at the end of the first trimester. The second is the potential for future research to explore the possible psychological and social development benefits and in line with this to try and identify the explanatory mechanism involved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1370-1378 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Acta Paediatrica |
| Volume | 107 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 22 Feb 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 13 Jul 2018 |
Keywords
- Emotional intelligence
- folic acid
- prosocial behaviour
- psychological adjustment
- resilience
