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Genetic Influences Can Protect Against Unresponsive Parenting in the Prediction of Child Social Competence
Author(s) -
Van Ryzin Mark J.,
Leve Leslie D.,
Neiderhiser Jenae M.,
Shaw Daniel S.,
Natsuaki Misaki N.,
Reiss David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12335
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , competence (human resources) , social competence , parenting styles , longitudinal study , social relation , social psychology , social change , statistics , mathematics , economics , economic growth
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.