Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
Published on: July 12, 2024
Early-life threat and deprivation: Are children similarly affected by exposure to each?
Kristina Sayler1, Katie A McLaughlin2, Jay Belsky1
1University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Abstract:
Extensive evidence documents negative consequences of adversity for children's development. Here, we extend such work by looking beyond average effects to consider variation in susceptibility to both threat and deprivation in terms of cognitive and social-emotional development, using an influence-statistic methodology. Data come from the ongoing Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 14,541, 49.1% female, age range: 6 month to 12 year, race and ethnicity: 97.8% white, 0.4% black, and 0.6% other). With respect to anticipated associations of threat with problem behavior and of deprivation with cognition, results of this pre-registered research revealed that a roughly equal proportion of children proved to be susceptible in a domain-general manner (similarly influenced) and a domain-specific one (dissimilarly influenced). Implications for intervention are considered.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Nature and Nurture
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood
The first four of Erikson's eight...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Attachment
Environmental Influences on Intelligence

