[The effect of genetic and environmental factors on externalizing behaviors of twin children].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on externalizing behaviors of children.


METHODS
A total of 168 twin pairs aged 6-16 years were recruited. Their parents completed Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate the children's externalizing behaviors. The parents also completed FACESII-CV and GHQ-12 to assess their family environment. Structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate the effects of additive genetic factors (A), common environmental factors (C) and individual-specific environmental factors (E) on the externalizing behaviors.


RESULTS
The effect of A, C, and E on externalizing behaviors were 0.39 (95% CI: 0.22-0.62), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.28-0.67), and 0.10 (95% Cl: 0.07-0.15), respectively. Significant correlations were found between the children's externalizing behaviors and the total GHQ-12 scores of their fathers and mothers (r = 0.24, P < 0.05; r = 0.30, P < 0.05). The externalizing behaviors were also correlated with family adaptability (r = 0.27, P< 0.01). The logistic regression identified mother's habits, such as smoking and drinking as risk factors of their children's externalizing behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Externalizing behaviors are mainly affected by shared environmental factors. Externalizing behaviors are related to general mental health of fathers and mothers and the family adaptability.
Fang
Hui
H
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Li
Tao
T
Gao
Xin
X
Situ
Ming-Jing
MJ
Zhang
Xiao-Wei
XW
Zhang
Yi
Y
Ma
Xiao-Hong
XH
Wang
Ying-Cheng
YC
Huang
Yi
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires