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Anger/frustration, task persistence, and conduct problems in childhood: a behavioral genetic analysis
Kirby Deater-Deckard1, Stephen A Petrill, Lee A Thompson
1Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. kirbydd@vt.edu
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|January 25, 2007
Summary
Genetic factors influence childhood conduct problems, anger, and attention. These traits share distinct genetic links, with environmental factors also playing a role in their development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Individual differences in conduct problems are linked to anger/frustration and poor self-regulation.
- The genetic and environmental causes of these links are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic and environmental influences on the relationships between anger/frustration, attention regulation (task persistence), and conduct problems in children.
- To examine the covariation of genetic and environmental factors underlying these traits.
Main Methods:
- A twin study design was employed with 105 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins and 154 pairs of same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins, aged 4-8 years.
- Independent observers assessed child persistence and affect during a cognitive task.
- Teachers and parents provided reports on children's conduct problems.
Main Results:
- Persistence, anger/frustration, and conduct problems showed moderate heritable and nonshared environmental influences.
- Conduct problems also exhibited moderate shared environmental variance.
- Persistence and anger/frustration had independent genetic links to conduct problems and shared nonshared environmental links with each other.
Conclusions:
- Genetically distinct but interconnected influences contribute to the relationship between temperament (affective and self-regulatory aspects) and childhood behavior problems.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the development of conduct issues.
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