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Analysis of Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Children Highlights the Role of Genotype × Environment Interaction
Author(s) -
Molenaar Dylan,
Middeldorp Christel,
Beijsterveldt Toos,
Boomsma Dorret I.
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.12451
Subject(s) - psychology , aggression , gene–environment interaction , anxiety , developmental psychology , heritability , social relation , dependency (uml) , social psychology , genotype , gene , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics , systems engineering , psychiatry , biology , engineering
This study tested for Genotype × Environment (G × E) interaction on behavioral and emotional problems in children using new methods that do not require identification of candidate genes or environments, can distinguish between interaction with shared and unique environment, and are insensitive to scale effects. Parental ratings of problem behavior from 14,755 twin pairs (5.3 years, SD = 0.22) indicated G × E interaction on emotional liability, social isolation, aggression, attention problems, dependency, anxiety, and physical coordination. Environmental influences increased in children who were genetically more predisposed to problem behavior, with ~20% of the variance due to G × E interaction (8% for anxiety to 37% for attention problems). Ignoring G × E interaction does not greatly bias heritability estimates, but it does offer a comprehensive model of the etiology for childhood problems.