One the Raine Study research publications looks at maternal tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy and the risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety in young adults. When they were pregnant, our Gen1 mums were asked to report the number of cigarettes they had per day and the total number of alcoholic drinks they had per week during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Once our Gen2s were born and all grown up, they were asked about experiences with depression and anxiety. Researchers used this data and found that young adults whose mothers reported tobacco smoking during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy were at increased risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety at the age of 20 years. Luckily early screenings and prevention strategies may be able to reduce the risks of anxiety symptoms in young adults.
Without the help of our incredible participants, research like this would not be possible. Thank you all for your ongoing support and commitment to Australian health research.
You can find out more about this study on our
website.
