Genetic and Environmental Influences on Mothering of Adolescents: A Comparison of Two Samples.

Abstract

This study examined 2 samples of adolescents and mothers using a child-based design (Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development [NEAD] project, N = 395 families) and a parent-based design (Twin Moms [TM] project, N = 236 twin family pairs) to compare genetic and environmental influences on mothering. For both samples, the same measures of positivity, negativity, control, and monitoring were used. The use of matched child-based and parent-based samples enabled passive and nonpassive genotype-environment (GE) correlations to be approximated, providing information about process. Passive GE correlations were suggested for mother's positivity and monitoring. For mother's negativity and control, primarily nonpassive GE correlations were suggested. In several cases, both types of GE correlation were indicated. Finally, observer ratings of negativity and monitoring were influenced only by environmental factors.

Accounting for genetic and environmental confounds in associations between parent and child characteristics: A systematic review of children-of-twins studies.

“…Although many studies suggest that parenting does have a shared environment component, such studies are primarily child-twin studies, where the twins receive the parenting (e.g. Lichtenstein et al, 2003;Neiderhiser et al, 2004). Studies where the parents are the twins do not tend to find significant evidence for the shared environment on parenting (e.g.…”

“…Although this may make sense for some phenotypes (i.e. a child cannot affect its mothers smoking behavior prior to birth), the relationship between parenting and child outcome is often bidirectional (Bell, 1968;Burt, McGue, Krueger, & Iacono, 2005;Cecil, Barker, Jaffee, & Viding, 2012;Neiderhiser et al, 2004;. That is, the parenting style adopted by parents may affect their child AND the behavior of a child may affect his/her parents' parenting style.…”

“…Neiderhiser et al (2004) discuss how comparisons between univariate estimates of the etiological structure of parenting across parent and child twin samples can inform as to the presence and nature of any rGE. For example, they point out that genetic influences on parenting in a child-based twin sample would indicate that the child's genes influence parenting -indicative of active or evocative rGE.…”

“…This includes parental characteristics, parenting style (Perusse, Neale, Heath & Eaves, 1994;Wade & Kendler, 2000), parent-child relationships (Elkins, McGue & Iacono, 1997;McGue, Elkins, Walden & Iacono, 2005;Neiderhiser et al, 2004;Neiderhiser, Reiss, Lichtenstein, Spotts & Ganiban, 2007), and the structure and organization of the home environment (Saudino & Plomin, 1997). Evidence from twin studies (McAdams, Gregory & Eley, 2013;Narusyte et al, 2008; Pike et al, 1996;Saudino & Plomin, 1997) demonstrate that the genetic factors associated with these elements of the rearing environment correlate with those involved in offspring psychopathology.…”

“…However, some researchers have used CoT data to explore other kinds of research question. For example, some studies have used CoT samples to explore the relative role of genes and environment in the etiology of parenting (Kendler, 1996;Losoya, Callor, Rowe & Goldsmith, 1997;Neiderhiser et al, 2004;Neiderhiser, Reiss, Lichtenstein, Spotts, & Ganiban, 2007). The importance of marital partners as a source of influence on maternal adjustment has also been assessed using CoT data Spotts et al, 2005).…”