title: Youth appraisals of inter-parental conflict and genetic and environmental contributions to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: examination of GxE effects in a twin sample.
abstract: Identification of gene x environment interactions (GxE) for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a crucial component to understanding the mechanisms underpinning the disorder, as prior work indicates large genetic influences and numerous environmental risk factors. Building on prior research, children's appraisals of self-blame were examined as a psychosocial moderator of latent etiological influences on ADHD via biometric twin models, which provide an omnibus test of GxE while managing the potential confound of gene-environment correlation. Participants were 246 twin pairs (total n = 492) ages 6-16 years. ADHD behaviors were assessed via mother report on the Child Behavior Checklist. To assess level of self-blame, each twin completed the Children's Perception of Inter-parental Conflict scale. Two biometric GxE models were fit to the data. The first model revealed a significant decrease in genetic effects and a significant increase in unique environmental influences on ADHD with increasing levels of self-blame. These results generally persisted even after controlling for confounding effects due to gene-environment correlation in the second model. Results suggest that appraisals of self-blame in relation to inter-parental conflict may act as a key moderator of etiological contributions to ADHD.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. molly-nikolas@uiowa.edu
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Nikolas
authors: Kelly L
authors: KL
authors: Klump
authors: S Alexandra
authors: SA
authors: Burt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004777:Environment; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept