title: Gene X environment interactions in reading disability and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: This article examines Gene x Environment (G x E) interactions in two comorbid developmental disorders--reading disability (RD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)--as a window on broader issues on G x E interactions in developmental psychology. The authors first briefly review types of G x E interactions, methods for detecting them, and challenges researchers confront in interpreting such interactions. They then review previous evidence for G x E interactions in RD and ADHD, the directions of which are opposite to each other: bioecological for RD and diathesis stress for ADHD. Given these results, the authors formulate and test predictions about G x E interactions that would be expected at the favorable end of each symptom dimension (e.g., above-average reading or attention). Consistent with their prediction, the authors found initial evidence for a resilience interaction for above-average reading: higher heritability in the presence of lower parental education. However, they did not find a G x E interaction at the favorable end of the ADHD symptom dimension. The authors conclude with implications for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver, USA. bpenning@du.edu
authors.forename: Bruce F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: Shelley D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Erik G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Willcutt
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Defries
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010700:Phonetics