title: Boys' serotonin transporter genotype affects maternal behavior through self-control: a case of evocative gene-environment correlation.
abstract: Self-control, involving processes such as delaying gratification, concentrating, planning, following instructions, and adapting emotions and behavior to situational requirements and social norms, may have a profound impact on children's adjustment. The importance of self-control suggests that parents are likely to modify their parenting based on children's ability for self-control. We study the effect of children's self-control, a trait partially molded by genetics, on their mothers' parenting, a process of evocative gene-environment correlation. Israeli 3.5-year-old twins (N = 320) participated in a lab session in which their mothers' parenting was observed. DNA was available from most children (N = 228). Mothers described children's self-control in a questionnaire. Boys were lower in self-control and received less positive parenting from their mothers, in comparison with girls. For boys, and not for girls, the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region gene predicted mothers' levels of positive parenting, an effect mediated by boys' self-control. The implications of this evocative gene-environment correlation and the observed sex differences are discussed.
authors: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91905, Israel.
authors: Roni
authors: R
authors: Pener-Tessler
authors: Reut
authors: R
authors: Avinun
authors: Florina
authors: F
authors: Uzefovsky
authors: Shany
authors: S
authors: Edelman
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Ebstein
authors: Ariel
authors: A
authors: Knafo
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010553:Personality Development; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins