title: Differential susceptibility experiments: going beyond correlational evidence: comment on beyond mental health, differential susceptibility articles.
abstract: Reviewing the studies on differential susceptibility presented in this section, we argue that the time is ripe to go beyond correlational designs to differential susceptibility experiments. In such experiments, randomization prevents hidden moderator effects on the environment and guarantees the independence of moderator and outcome, while the environment is manipulated and assessed in standard ways. Correlational studies generate a priori expectations about crucial moderators (e.g., temperament, biological sensitivity, and genetics). We discuss the differential susceptibility experiments available up until now and conclude that these experiments are feasible and contribute in unique ways to our conceptions of differential susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Family Studies, Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. vanijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van IJzendoorn
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012933:Social Identification; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4