TY - JOUR
T1 - Externalizing problems, attention regulation, and household chaos
T2 - A longitudinal behavioral genetic study
AU - Wang, Zhe
AU - Deater-Deckard, Kirby
AU - Petrill, Stephen A.
AU - Thompson, Lee A.
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - Previous research documented a robust link between difficulties in self-regulation and development of externalizing problems (i.e., aggression and delinquency). In this study, we examined the longitudinal additive and interactive genetic and environmental covariation underlying this well-established link using a twin design. The sample included 131 pairs of monozygotic twins and 173 pairs of same-sex dizygotic twins who participated in three waves of annual assessment. Mothers and fathers provided reports of externalizing problems. Teacher report and observer rating were used to assess twin's attention regulation. The etiology underlying the link between externalizing problems and attention regulation shifted from a common genetic mechanism to a common environmental mechanism in the transition across middle childhood. Household chaos moderated the genetic variance of and covariance between externalizing problems and attention regulation. The genetic influence on individual differences in both externalizing problems and attention regulation was stronger in more chaotic households. However, higher levels of household chaos attenuated the genetic link between externalizing problems and attention regulation.
AB - Previous research documented a robust link between difficulties in self-regulation and development of externalizing problems (i.e., aggression and delinquency). In this study, we examined the longitudinal additive and interactive genetic and environmental covariation underlying this well-established link using a twin design. The sample included 131 pairs of monozygotic twins and 173 pairs of same-sex dizygotic twins who participated in three waves of annual assessment. Mothers and fathers provided reports of externalizing problems. Teacher report and observer rating were used to assess twin's attention regulation. The etiology underlying the link between externalizing problems and attention regulation shifted from a common genetic mechanism to a common environmental mechanism in the transition across middle childhood. Household chaos moderated the genetic variance of and covariance between externalizing problems and attention regulation. The genetic influence on individual differences in both externalizing problems and attention regulation was stronger in more chaotic households. However, higher levels of household chaos attenuated the genetic link between externalizing problems and attention regulation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863949566&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0954579412000351
DO - 10.1017/S0954579412000351
M3 - Article
C2 - 22781853
AN - SCOPUS:84863949566
SN - 0954-5794
VL - 24
SP - 755
EP - 769
JO - Development and Psychopathology
JF - Development and Psychopathology
IS - 3
ER -