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Predictors of Intelligence at the Age of 5: Family, Pregnancy and Birth Characteristics, Postnatal Influences, and Postnatal Growth

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  • Hanne-Lise Falgreen Eriksen
  • Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel
  • Mette Underbjerg
  • Tina Røndrup Kilburn
  • Jacquelyn Bertrand
  • Erik Lykke Mortensen

Abstract

Parental education and maternal intelligence are well-known predictors of child IQ. However, the literature regarding other factors that may contribute to individual differences in IQ is inconclusive. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of a number of variables whose predictive status remain unclarified, in a sample of basically healthy children with a low rate of pre- and postnatal complications. 1,782 5-year-old children sampled from the Danish National Birth Cohort (2003–2007) were assessed with a short form of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Revised. Information on parental characteristics, pregnancy and birth factors, postnatal influences, and postnatal growth was collected during pregnancy and at follow-up. A model including study design variables and child’s sex explained 7% of the variance in IQ, while parental education and maternal IQ increased the explained variance to 24%. Other predictors were parity, maternal BMI, birth weight, breastfeeding, and the child’s head circumference and height at follow-up. These variables, however, only increased the explained variance to 29%. The results suggest that parental education and maternal IQ are major predictors of IQ and should be included routinely in studies of cognitive development. Obstetrical and postnatal factors also predict IQ, but their contribution may be of comparatively limited magnitude.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanne-Lise Falgreen Eriksen & Ulrik Schiøler Kesmodel & Mette Underbjerg & Tina Røndrup Kilburn & Jacquelyn Bertrand & Erik Lykke Mortensen, 2013. "Predictors of Intelligence at the Age of 5: Family, Pregnancy and Birth Characteristics, Postnatal Influences, and Postnatal Growth," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0079200
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079200
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sukanta Saha & Adrian G Barnett & Claire Foldi & Thomas H Burne & Darryl W Eyles & Stephen L Buka & John J McGrath, 2009. "Advanced Paternal Age Is Associated with Impaired Neurocognitive Outcomes during Infancy and Childhood," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(3), pages 1-9, March.
    2. Patrick Royston, 2009. "Multiple imputation of missing values: Further update of ice, with an emphasis on categorical variables," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(3), pages 466-477, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei-Chih Chin & Wei-Chi Wu & Jen-Fu Hsu & I. Tang & Tsung-Chieh Yao & Yu-Shu Huang, 2023. "Correlation Analysis of Attention and Intelligence of Preterm Infants at Preschool Age: A Premature Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Trine Flensborg-Madsen & Hanne-Lise Falgreen Eriksen & Erik Lykke Mortensen, 2020. "Early life predictors of intelligence in young adulthood and middle age," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, January.

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