Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
J Clin Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;63(2):185-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.05.003. Epub 2009 Aug 13.
Evidence on the validity of parental recall of early childhood behavior is lacking. Our aim was to examine the validity of parental recall at child age 10-12 years for maternal lifestyle during pregnancy, the birth characteristics, and early childhood behavior.
The study population comprised 2,230 children and their parents. Children aged 10-12 years were recruited from elementary schools (response: 76.0%). Parents were asked to recall lifestyle during pregnancy, birth characteristics, and childhood behavior at age 4-6 years. Recalled data were compared with information registered by Preventive Child Healthcare (PCH) from birth onwards.
For birth weight and gestational age, we found no systematic difference between recalled and PCH-registered data; 95% limits of agreement were + or - 1.2 pounds (600 g) and + or - 2.4 weeks, respectively. For maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and early childhood behavior problems, Cohen's kappas were low (0.03-0.11). Compared with PCH registration, parents tended to overreport at age 10-12 years. In contrast, kappa was high for maternal smoking during pregnancy (0.77).
Retrospectively collected information on lifestyle during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood behavior is sometimes biased, which limits its value in estimating the contribution of early-life adversity to health in later life.
缺乏关于父母对儿童早期行为回忆的有效性的证据。我们的目的是检验父母在孩子 10-12 岁时对母亲怀孕期间生活方式、出生特征和儿童早期行为的回忆的有效性。
该研究人群包括 2230 名儿童及其父母。从小学招募了 10-12 岁的儿童（应答率：76.0%）。父母被要求回忆怀孕期间的生活方式、出生特征和 4-6 岁时的儿童行为。回忆的数据与从出生开始由预防儿童保健（PCH）登记的信息进行了比较。
对于出生体重和胎龄，我们发现回忆数据和 PCH 登记数据之间没有系统差异；95%的一致性界限分别为+或-1.2 磅（600 克）和+或-2.4 周。对于母亲怀孕期间饮酒和儿童早期行为问题，Cohen 的 κ 值较低（0.03-0.11）。与 PCH 登记相比，父母在 10-12 岁时往往会过度报告。相比之下，母亲怀孕期间吸烟的 κ 值较高（0.77）。
回顾性收集的关于怀孕期间、出生和儿童早期行为的生活方式信息有时存在偏差，这限制了其在估计早期生活逆境对晚年健康的贡献方面的价值。
