title: Genetic influences can protect against unresponsive parenting in the prediction of child social competence.
abstract: Although social competence in children has been linked to the quality of parenting, prior research has typically not accounted for genetic similarities between parents and children, or for interactions between environmental (i.e., parental) and genetic influences. In this article, the possibility of a Gene x Environment (G × E) interaction in the prediction of social competence in school-age children is evaluated. Using a longitudinal, multimethod data set from a sample of children adopted at birth (N = 361), a significant interaction was found between birth parent sociability and sensitive, responsive adoptive parenting when predicting child social competence at school entry (age 6), even when controlling for potential confounds. An analysis of the interaction revealed that genetic strengths can buffer the effects of unresponsive parenting.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Ryzin
authors.affiliation: University of Oregon.
authors.forename: Leslie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Leve
authors.affiliation: The Pennsylvania State University.
authors.forename: Jenae M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Neiderhiser
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: University of California, Riverside.
authors.forename: Misaki N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Natsuaki
authors.affiliation: Yale University.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D065840:Protective Factors; D066107:Social Skills