Citation

Jay Schulz-Heik R, Rhee SH, Silvern L, Lessem JM, Haberstick BC, Hopfer CJ, Hewitt JK. Behav. Genet. 2009; 39(3): 265-276.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. jay.schulz-heik@colorado.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10519-009-9261-4

PMID

19283463

PMCID

PMC2693353

Abstract

Theory and empirical evidence suggest that children's genetically influenced characteristics help to shape the environments they experience, including the parenting they 'receive'. The extent of these genetically-mediated child effects on childhood maltreatment is not well known. The present study estimates the magnitude of genetically mediated child effects on maltreatment in 3,297 twins and siblings who were part of a large nationally representative sample of adolescents (ADD health). Participants in early adulthood retrospectively reported their experiences of physical and sexual maltreatment and neglect. Results are consistent with small genetically-mediated child effects on physical maltreatment and neglect, and none on sexual maltreatment, and all three forms of maltreatment are influenced mainly by idiosyncratic individual circumstances.

Language: en