Investigation of genetically mediated child effects on maltreatment.
Theory and empirical evidence suggest that children's genetically influenced characteristics help to shape the environments they experience, including the parenting they 'receive'. The extent of these genetically-mediated child effects on childhood maltreatment is not well known. The present study estimates the magnitude of genetically mediated child effects on maltreatment in 3,297 twins and siblings who were part of a large nationally representative sample of adolescents (ADD health). Participants in early adulthood retrospectively reported their experiences of physical and sexual maltreatment and neglect. Results are consistent with small genetically-mediated child effects on physical maltreatment and neglect, and none on sexual maltreatment, and all three forms of maltreatment are influenced mainly by idiosyncratic individual circumstances.
Jay Schulz-Heik
R
R
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. jay.schulz-heik@colorado.edu
Rhee
Soo Hyun
SH
Silvern
Louise
L
Lessem
Jeffrey M
JM
Haberstick
Brett C
BC
Hopfer
Christian
C
Hewitt
John K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult