Negative parental discipline, conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits: monozygotic twin differences study.
BACKGROUND
Negative parenting practices may be an environmental risk factor for subsequent conduct problems. Research on the association between parenting practices and callous-unemotional traits, a risk factor for conduct problems, has produced mixed findings.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether negative parental discipline is a non-shared environmental risk factor for the development of conduct problems and callous-unemotional traits.


METHODS
Longitudinal, multi-informant data from a community sample of twins were analysed using the monozygotic (MZ) twin differences design for 4508 twins (2254 twin pairs).


RESULTS
Within MZ twin pairs, the twin receiving more negative parental discipline at 7 years had more conduct problems (but not more callous-unemotional traits) at 12 years.


CONCLUSIONS
During the transition to early adolescence, negative parental discipline operates as a non-shared environmental risk factor for development of conduct problems, but not for the development of callous-unemotional traits.
Viding
Essi
E
PhD, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP, UK. e.viding@ucl.ac.uk
Fontaine
Nathalie M G
NM
Oliver
Bonamy R
BR
Plomin
Robert
R
D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011678:Punishment / Q000523:psychology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000523:psychology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology