Early life predictors of childhood intelligence: evidence from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study

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Abstract
Objective: To identify the early life predictors of childhood intelligence. Design: Cohort study of 10 424 children who were born in Aberdeen (Scotland) between 1950 and 1956. Results: Social class of father around the time of birth, gravidity, maternal age, maternal physical condition, whether the child was born outside of marriage, prematurity, intrauterine growth, and childhood height were all independently associated with childhood intelligence at ages 7, 9, and 11. The effect of social class at birth was particularly pronounced, with a graded linear association across the distribution even with adjustment for all other covariates (pConclusions: Father’s social class around the time of birth was an important predictor of childhood intelligence, even after adjustment for maternal characteristics and perinatal and childhood factors. Studies of the association of childhood intelligence with future adult disease need to ensure that the association is not fully explained by socioeconomic position.

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