TY - JOUR
T1 - Observed externalizing behavior
T2 - A developmental comparison of genetic and environmental influences across three samples
AU - Marceau, Kristine
AU - Humbad, Mikhila N.
AU - Burt, S. Alexandra
AU - Klump, Kelly L.
AU - Leve, Leslie D.
AU - Neiderhiser, Jenae M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments The MSU project was funded by the Intramural Grants Program, Michigan State University, #04-IRGP-232 and R01 MH081813. The Oregon Twin Project was funded by P30 MH 46690 and R03 MH 57053. Other research funds were provided by the University of Oregon, Department of Psychology. Data collection and other work on the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development project was supported by R01 MH43373, R01 MH48825, R01 MH059014, R01 MH065563 and the William T. Grant Foundation.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Estimates of genetic and environmental influences on externalizing behavior are markedly inconsistent. In an attempt to refine and extend our knowledge of externalizing behavior, the current study examined the etiology of externalizing behavior using observational data in middle childhood and adolescence from three twin and sibling samples. Observational ratings offer a unique perspective on externalizing behavior rarely examined within behavioral genetic designs. Shared environmental influences were significant and moderate to large in magnitude across all three samples (i.e., 44, 77, and 38%), while genetic influences (31%) were significant only for the adolescent sample. All three samples showed greater shared environmental influences and less genetic influence than is typically found when examining self-, parent-, and teacher-reports of externalizing behavior. These findings are consistent with other reports that have found evidence for shared environmental influences on measures of child externalizing behavior-in direct contrast to a commonly held perception that shared environmental factors do not have significant influences on behavior beyond early childhood.
AB - Estimates of genetic and environmental influences on externalizing behavior are markedly inconsistent. In an attempt to refine and extend our knowledge of externalizing behavior, the current study examined the etiology of externalizing behavior using observational data in middle childhood and adolescence from three twin and sibling samples. Observational ratings offer a unique perspective on externalizing behavior rarely examined within behavioral genetic designs. Shared environmental influences were significant and moderate to large in magnitude across all three samples (i.e., 44, 77, and 38%), while genetic influences (31%) were significant only for the adolescent sample. All three samples showed greater shared environmental influences and less genetic influence than is typically found when examining self-, parent-, and teacher-reports of externalizing behavior. These findings are consistent with other reports that have found evidence for shared environmental influences on measures of child externalizing behavior-in direct contrast to a commonly held perception that shared environmental factors do not have significant influences on behavior beyond early childhood.
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U2 - 10.1007/s10519-011-9481-2
DO - 10.1007/s10519-011-9481-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 21701941
AN - SCOPUS:84856677483
SN - 0001-8244
VL - 42
SP - 30
EP - 39
JO - Behavior Genetics
JF - Behavior Genetics
IS - 1
ER -