A new study has shown that mothers who smoke during pregnancy have the risk of having children who might get a criminal record when they grow up as smoking induces behavioural problems in children during pregnancy. Researchers found a dose-dependent relationship: women who smoked heavily during pregnancy were more likely than moderate smokers to have adult children with an arrest record and also figured out a correlation between maternal smoking and the likelihood of criminal activity in grown children.

There were 30 per cent more chances of adults getting arrested if their mothers smoked when they were conceived. There was a possibility of them becoming repeat offenders. Data from 3,766 participants was used by researchers to learn about the smoking habits of expectant mothers. Between 1959 and 1966 mothers who were expecting were interviewed about their smoking habits. Researchers were able to check adult criminal records for all children in 1999 and 2000, when all children born to these mothers had reached adulthood.

Authors noted, "While we cannot definitively conclude that maternal smoking during pregnancy, particularly heavy smoking, is a causal risk factor for adult criminal offending, the current findings do support a modest causal relationship."