Premium
Genetic and environmental mediation of the prediction from preschool language and nonverbal ability to 7‐year reading
Author(s) -
HayiouThomas Marianna E.,
Harlaar Nicole,
Dale Philip S.,
Plomin Robert
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of research in reading
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.077
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1467-9817
pISSN - 0141-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9817.2006.00292.x
Subject(s) - nonverbal communication , psychology , reading (process) , mediation , developmental psychology , language development , cognitive psychology , linguistics , philosophy , political science , law
We use a genetically sensitive design to examine the relationship between language and nonverbal ability at 4½ and reading skills at 7 years of age in a sample of more than 1,000 children participating in the Twins Early Development Study. We find that nonphonological as well as phonological measures of early language make significant contributions towards the prediction of reading at 7, and that nonverbal ability at 4½ is an equally strong predictor. With respect to aetiology, we find substantial genetic contributions towards the relationship between early language skills and reading at 7, as well as a trend towards shared environmental influences. The genetic continuity is not specific to the verbal domain, however, as we also find a substantial genetic relationship between nonverbal ability at 4½ and reading at 7.