Citation

DiLalla LF, Elam KK, Smolen A. Dev. Psychobiol. 2009; 51(6): 451-464.

Affiliation

Family & Community Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. ldilalla@siu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/dev.20384

PMID

19582792

Abstract

This study examined effects from a specific dopamine receptor gene (DRD4), environmental influences from parents and peers, and the interaction between them, on aggressive and prosocial behaviors of preschoolers. Children were classified as DRD4-L (n = 27) if they had at least one DRD4 allele with six to eight repeats and as DRD4-S (n = 35) if not. Parent-child interactions were coded when children were 3-4 years old. Peer interaction data and parent questionnaires were collected at age 5. DRD4-L children shared less with each other and parents were less sensitive during parent-twin triadic interactions. Also, genotype interacted with peer aggression to affect children's aggression during a peer play interaction at age 5, and genotype interacted with prior parental sensitivity to affect later externalizing problems. Thus, children having a certain genetic disposition may be more sensitive to certain environmental stimuli and therefore more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors under more stressful circumstances.

Language: en