Adolescent externalizing behaviour, psychological control, and peer rejection: Transactional links and dopaminergic moderation.
This study investigated (1) reciprocal links among parental psychological control, peer rejection, and adolescent externalizing (aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour), and (2) the moderating effect of an adolescent genetic factor (biologically informed polygenic score for dopamine signalling). Three-year longitudinal data from 1,116 adolescents (51% boys; M age = 13.79) and their parents included psychological measures (adolescent-reported psychological control, peer-reported rejection, and parent-reported aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour). Cross-lagged analyses showed bidirectional effects between psychological control and both aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour and a unidirectional effect of peer rejection on both forms of problem behaviour over time. Multigroup structural equation modelling revealed genetic moderation only for rule-breaking behaviour: for adolescents with intermediate levels of dopamine signalling significant environmental effects were present, whereas adolescent effects of rule-breaking behaviour on psychological control were significant for adolescents with both intermediate and high profiles and effects on peer rejection only for adolescents with high dopamine profiles. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Parental psychological control is related to adolescent externalizing problems. Experiencing peer rejection reinforces aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour. Single-gene studies show that dopaminergic genes influence externalizing problems directly or in interaction with the environment. What does this study add? Parental psychological control and adolescent aggressive and rule-breaking behaviour exacerbate one another longitudinally. Longitudinal associations between peer rejection and both subtypes of externalizing behaviour are unidirectional. With a polygenic approach, dopaminergic moderation is present for rule-breaking behaviour only.
Parenting and Special Education Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Annelies
A
Janssens
Methodology of Educational Sciences Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Wim
W
Van Den Noortgate
School Psychology and Development in Context, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Luc
L
Goossens
School Psychology and Development in Context, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Karine
K
Verschueren
School Psychology and Development in Context, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Hilde
H
Colpin
Department of Neuroscience, GRASP-Research Group, KU Leuven, Belgium.|University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Stephan
S
Claes
Parenting and Special Education Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Martijn
M
Van Heel
Parenting and Special Education Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
Karla
0000-0002-6628-3483
K
Van Leeuwen
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012929:Psychological Distance; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences
C581293:DRD2 protein, human; C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; C588010:COMT protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
adolescence; dopamine; externalizing behaviour; peer rejection; psychological control