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Genetic amplification and the individualization of the parent–child relationship across adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2012

S. Ludeke ,
W. Johnson ,
M. McGue  and
W. G. Iacono
S. Ludeke*
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
W. Johnson
Affiliation:
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
M. McGue
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
W. G. Iacono
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: S. Ludeke, M.A., Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 75 E River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, USA. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Many psychological traits become increasingly influenced by genetic factors throughout development, including several that might intuitively be seen as purely environmental characteristics. One such trait is the parent–child relationship, which is associated with a variety of socially significant outcomes, including mental health and criminal behavior. Genetic factors have been shown to partially underlie some of these associations, but the changing role of genetic influence over time remains poorly understood.

Method

Over 1000 participants in a longitudinal twin study were assessed at three points across adolescence with a self-report measure regarding the levels of warmth and conflict in their relationships with their parents. These reports were analyzed with a biometric growth curve model to identify changes in genetic and environmental influences over time.

Results

Genetic influence on the child-reported relationship with parent increased throughout adolescence, while the relationship's quality deteriorated. The increase in genetic influence resulted primarily from a positive association between genetic factors responsible for the initial relationship and those involved in change in the relationship over time. By contrast, environmental factors relating to change were negatively related to those involved in the initial relationship.

Conclusions

The increasing genetic influence seems to be due to early genetic influences having greater freedom of expression over time whereas environmental circumstances were decreasingly important to variance in the parent–child relationship. We infer that the parent–child relationship may become increasingly influenced by the particular characteristics of the child (many of which are genetically influenced), gradually displacing the effects of parental or societal ideas of child rearing.

Keywords

Behavioural geneticsgenetic amplificationparent–child relationshiplongitudinal research
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , February 2013 , pp. 413 - 422
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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