title: An examination of the developmental propensity model of conduct problems.
abstract: The present study tested specific hypotheses advanced by the developmental propensity model of the etiology of conduct problems in the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study, a prospective, longitudinal, genetically informative sample. High negative emotionality, low behavioral inhibition, low concern and high disregard for others, and low cognitive ability assessed during toddlerhood (age 14 to 36 months) were examined as predictors of conduct problems in later childhood and adolescence (age 4 to 17 years). Each hypothesized antisocial propensity dimension predicted conduct problems, but some predictions may be context specific or due to method covariance. The most robust predictors were observed disregard for others (i.e., responding to others' distress with active, negative responses such as anger and hostility), general cognitive ability, and language ability, which were associated with conduct problems reported by parents, teachers, and adolescents, and change in observed negative emotionality (i.e., frustration tolerance), which was associated with conduct problems reported by teachers and adolescents. Furthermore, associations between the most robust early predictors and later conduct problems were influenced by the shared environment rather than genes. We conclude that shared environmental influences that promote disregard for others and detract from cognitive and language development during toddlerhood also predispose individuals to conduct problems in later childhood and adolescence. The identification of those shared environmental influences common to early antisocial propensity and later conduct problems is an important future direction, and additional developmental behavior genetic studies examining the interaction between children's characteristics and socializing influences on conduct problems are needed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Naomi P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Robin P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Corley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Hink
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder.
authors.forename: Ashley K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smith Watts
authors.affiliation: Division of Substance Dependence, University of Colorado Denver.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut.
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emory University.
authors.forename: Irwin D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Waldman
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zahn-Waxler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011446:Prospective Studies