Interaction between parental preconception and prenatal smoking and alcohol use on autism-like behaviour in preschoolers: a cross-sectional study in Huizhou, China - Report - MDSpire

Interaction between parental preconception and prenatal smoking and alcohol use on autism-like behaviour in preschoolers: a cross-sectional study in Huizhou, China

  • By

  • Shuang Wu

  • Huiting Chen

  • Jinming Liu

  • Ruoqing Chen

  • Weiying Liu

  • Yulan Wu

  • Zizi Liu

  • Feixiang Zeng

  • Dongyan Wen

  • Jiarong Lin

  • Lvping Li

  • Yu Jin

  • May 26, 2026

  • 0 min

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Influence of Parental Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Autism Behaviors

Overview

This study investigates the associations between parental smoking and alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy and the risk of autism-like behaviors in preschool children. Findings indicate that maternal passive smoking and paternal smoking history are associated with autism-like behaviors.

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with a growing global health burden. Environmental factors, particularly parental smoking and alcohol consumption during the preconception and prenatal periods, are estimated to contribute to the risk of ASD.

Data Highlights

ExposureOdds Ratio (OR)95% Confidence Interval (CI)
Maternal prenatal passive smoking1.3271.042 to 1.690
Paternal smoking history1.6431.036 to 2.605
Negative additive interaction (smoking cessation and alcohol consumption)-2.170-4.035 to -0.304

Key Findings

  • Maternal prenatal passive smoking is associated with increased odds of autism-like behavior in children.
  • Paternal smoking history before pregnancy is a significant risk factor for autism-like behavior.
  • A negative additive interaction exists between maternal smoking cessation during pregnancy and concurrent alcohol consumption.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare providers should be aware of the associations between smoking and alcohol consumption and autism-like behaviors in children.

Conclusion

This study identifies parental smoking and alcohol consumption as factors associated with autism-like behaviors in preschool children.

Related Resources & Content

  1. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Investigation of Plasma and Urinary Neurotransmitter Levels in Chinese Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  2. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Association of prenatal alcohol exposure and prenatal depressive symptoms with offspring hair cortisol in childhood and adolescence
  3. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2025 -- The potential effects of hypothetical PM2.5 interventions on childhood autism in different neighborhood socioeconomic contexts
  4. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2026 -- Association between parenting styles and weight-for-length z scores among infants and toddlers aged 0–36 months in China: a cross-sectional study
  5. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy | Alcohol and Pregnancy | CDC
  6. JCM, 2025 -- Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  7. Familial confounding in the associations between maternal health and autism | Nature Medicine, 2024
  8. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy | Alcohol and Pregnancy | CDC
  9. JCM | Free Full-Text | Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Notes
  10. Familial confounding in the associations between maternal health and autism | Nature Medicine

Original Source(s)

Interaction between parental preconception and prenatal smoking and alcohol use on autism-like behaviour in preschoolers: a cross-sectional study in Huizhou, China

  • by Shuang Wu, Huiting Chen, Jinming Liu, Ruoqing Chen, Weiying Liu, Yulan Wu, Zizi Liu, Feixiang Zeng, Dongyan Wen, Jiarong Lin, Lvping Li, Yu Jin

  • May 26, 2026

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