Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
Published on: June 17, 2025
Intergenerational transmission of internalising and externalising behaviours across three generations:
Hyoun K Kim1, Deborah M Capaldi, Katherine C Pears
1Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. hyounk@oslc.org
Background:
Few studies have examined gender-specific pathways in the intergenerational transmission of internalising and externalising behaviours across three generations.
Aim:
The current study considered both parental figures' internalising and externalising symptoms simultaneously and tested path models of the transmission of internalising and externalising symptoms from Generation 1 (G1) to Generation 2 (G2) and from G2 to Generation 3 (G3) by focusing on gender-specific pathways.
Method:
The study used data from the Oregon Youth Study of 206 young men and two associated studies of their intimate partners (Couples Study) and children (Three-Generational Study) over 20 years.
Results:
Findings indicated that, in general, mothers' internalising behaviour showed robust influence on offspring's internalising symptoms across three generations, regardless of gender of the child. G2 men's externalising behaviour was further predicted by G1 mothers' internalising as well as externalising behaviour, albeit the latter was only marginally significant. G3 girls' internalising and externalising behaviour was predicted by their fathers' corresponding behaviour. Overall, fathers' influence on their sons was limited.
Conclusion:
The findings shed important light on potential gender-specific mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of internalising and externalising behaviour.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Conduct Disorder
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Inheritance
Each gene exists in pairs, and the combination of these genes from both parents forms an individual's genotype. This genotype is a blueprint of potential traits. Examples of genotype traits...

