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Childhood peer network characteristics: genetic influences and links with early mental health trajectories
Author(s) -
Szekely Eszter,
Pappa Irene,
Wilson James D.,
Bhamidi Shankar,
Jaddoe Vincent W.,
Verhulst Frank C.,
Tiemeier Henning,
Shaw Philip
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12493
Subject(s) - psychology , centrality , closeness , prosocial behavior , developmental psychology , mental health , social network analysis , peer group , social network (sociolinguistics) , social psychology , social capital , psychiatry , mathematical analysis , social science , mathematics , combinatorics , sociology , political science , law , social media
Background Peer relationships are important for children's mental health, yet little is known of their etiological underpinnings. Here, we explore the genetic influences on childhood peer network characteristics in three different networks defined by rejection, acceptance, and prosocial behavior. We further examine the impact of early externalizing and internalizing trajectories on these same peer network characteristics. Methods Participants were 1,288 children from the Dutch ‘Generation R’ birth cohort. At age 7, we mapped out children's classroom peer networks for peer rejection, acceptance, and prosocial behavior using mutual peer nominations. In each network, genetic influences were estimated for children's degree centrality, closeness centrality and link reciprocity from DNA using Genome‐wide Complex Trait Analysis. Preschool externalizing and internalizing trajectories were computed using parental ratings at ages 1.5, 3, and 5 years. Results Of the three network properties examined, closeness centrality emerged as significantly heritable across all networks. Preschool externalizing problems predicted unfavorable positions within peer rejection networks and having fewer mutual friendships. In contrast, children with preschool‐internalizing problems were not actively rejected by their peers, but were less well‐connected within their social support network. Conclusions Our finding of significant heritability for closeness centrality should be taken as preliminary evidence that requires replication. Nevertheless, it can orient us to the role of genes in shaping a child's position within peer networks. Additionally, social network perspectives offer rich insights into how early life mental health trajectories impact a child's later functioning within peer networks.