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New research reveals more reasons why expectant mothers should steer clear of alcohol entirely. Researchers found that women who drink during pregnancy are more likely to mother children with impaired social skills.

The latest study involved 125 children between the ages of six and 12. Researchers said that 97 children met diagnostic criteria for a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Researchers assessed children's neurocognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and adaptive functioning.

The findings revealed that children who had been exposed to alcohol in the womb scored significantly poorer on tests measuring executive functioning, attention, working/visuospatial memory, linguistic abstraction, adaptive behavior, emotional/behavioral functioning, and social cognition compared to those in the non-exposed group.

Children who had been exposed to alcohol in the womb were also more likely than non-exposed children to attribute hostile intentions towards provocative behaviors (pushing and shoving) by their peers and to situations that did not involved physical provocation (rejection).

Children in the exposed group were also more likely to exhibit inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive behavior as well as depressive symptoms.

Parents and teachers were also more likely to report social problems in children exposed to alcohol. The findings held true even after accounting for IQ.

The study was published in the journal Child Neuropsychology.