Higher Quality Parent-Offspring Relationships Predict Lower-Risk Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Genetically Informed...

We used data from adopted and nonadopted siblings to separate genetic and environmental confounding of the effect of parent-offspring relationships on offspring's risky sexual behavior.

Data came from the Sibling Interaction and Behavior Study, which included 617 two-offspring families enrolled between 1998 and 2004 (53% European, 39% Korean, 8% other), with either one or two adopted offspring (n = 409) or two nonadopted offspring (n = 208). At one assessment (M age = 17.3), parents and offspring reported on parent-offspring relationship quality; at a later assessment (M age = 20.7), offspring reported their sexual behavior. Univariate biometric models tested shared environmental effects and mixed-effects models examined between- and within-family effects.

Biometric modeling indicated that 15% of the variance in sexual behavior reflected shared environmental effects. Prospectively assessed parent-offspring relationship quality was significantly associated with offspring sexual behavior in both nonadopted and adopted families, eliminating the possibility of genetic confounding, and within as well as between families, consistent with a causal effect. Results were similar across both parent and offspring ratings of relationship quality.

We found consistent evidence for an environmental explanation: higher quality parent-offspring relationships predicted that offspring were less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior. These associations existed both between families, reflecting the impact of shared environmental factors, and within families, consistent with environmental influences that operate within families. Future research should use research designs that separate potential confounding from reactive gene-environment correlation and identify mechanisms underlying this association to inform interventions.