title: How are parent-child conflict and childhood externalizing symptoms related over time? Results from a genetically informative cross-lagged study.
abstract: The present study attempted to determine the direction and etiology of the robust relationship between childhood externalizing (EXT) symptoms and parent-child conflict using a genetically informative longitudinal model and data from the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study. Participants consisted of 1,506 same-sex twins assessed at ages 11 and 14, and their parents. The relationship between EXT and parent-child conflict from ages 11 to 14 was examined within a biometrical cross-lagged design. The results revealed three primary findings: first, the stability of conflict and externalizing over time is largely, although not solely, a result of genetic factors. Second, there appears to be a bidirectional relationship between conflict and EXT over time, such that both conflict and EXT at 11 independently predict the other 3 years later. Finally, the results are consistent with the notion that parent-child conflict partially results from parental responses to their child's heritable externalizing behavior, while simultaneously contributing to child externalizing via environmental mechanisms. These results suggest a "downward spiral" of interplay between parent-child conflict and EXT, and offer confirmation of a (partially) environmentally mediated effect of parenting on child behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. burts@msu.edu
authors.forename: S Alexandra
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGue
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Iacono
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012931:Social Environment