Pol VAN Lier1, Michel Boivin2, Ginette Dionne2, Frank Vitaro2, Mara Brendgen2, Hans Koot2, Richard E Tremblay2, Daniel Pérusse2. 1. Drs. van Lier and Koot are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Drs. Boivin and Dionne are with GRIP, École de Psychologie, Université Laval; Drs. Vitaro, Tremblay, and Pérusse are with GRIP, Université de Montréal; and Dr. Brendgen is with Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal.. Electronic address: michel.boivin@psy.ulaval.ca. 2. Drs. van Lier and Koot are with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Drs. Boivin and Dionne are with GRIP, École de Psychologie, Université Laval; Drs. Vitaro, Tremblay, and Pérusse are with GRIP, Université de Montréal; and Dr. Brendgen is with Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether kindergarten children's genetic liability to physically aggress moderates the contribution of friends' aggression to their aggressive behaviors. METHOD: Teacher and peer reports of aggression were available for 359 6-year-old twin pairs (145 MZ, 212 DZ) as well as teacher and peer reports of aggression of the two best friends of each twin. Children's genetic risk for aggression was based on their cotwin's aggression status and the pair's zygosity. RESULTS: Children's aggression was highly heritable. Unique environment accounted for most of the variance in friends' aggression, although there was also a small genetic contribution (15%). Both genetic liability to aggression and having aggressive friends predicted twins' aggression. However, the contribution of aggressive friends to children's aggression was strongest among genetically vulnerable children. This result was similar for boys and girls, despite sex differences in both aggression and the level of aggression of friends. CONCLUSIONS: Affiliation with aggressive friends at school entry is a significant environmental risk factor for aggression, especially for children genetically at risk for aggressive behaviors. Developmental models of aggression need to take into account both genetic liability and environmental factors in multiple settings, such as the peer context, to more precisely describe and understand the various developmental pathways to aggression. The implications for early prevention programs are discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether kindergarten children's genetic liability to physically aggress moderates the contribution of friends' aggression to their aggressive behaviors. METHOD: Teacher and peer reports of aggression were available for 359 6-year-old twin pairs (145 MZ, 212 DZ) as well as teacher and peer reports of aggression of the two best friends of each twin. Children's genetic risk for aggression was based on their cotwin's aggression status and the pair's zygosity. RESULTS:Children's aggression was highly heritable. Unique environment accounted for most of the variance in friends' aggression, although there was also a small genetic contribution (15%). Both genetic liability to aggression and having aggressive friends predicted twins' aggression. However, the contribution of aggressive friends to children's aggression was strongest among genetically vulnerable children. This result was similar for boys and girls, despite sex differences in both aggression and the level of aggression of friends. CONCLUSIONS: Affiliation with aggressive friends at school entry is a significant environmental risk factor for aggression, especially for children genetically at risk for aggressive behaviors. Developmental models of aggression need to take into account both genetic liability and environmental factors in multiple settings, such as the peer context, to more precisely describe and understand the various developmental pathways to aggression. The implications for early prevention programs are discussed.
Authors: Shawn J Latendresse; John E Bates; Jackson A Goodnight; Jennifer E Lansford; John P Budde; Alison Goate; Kenneth A Dodge; Gregory S Pettit; Danielle M Dick Journal: Child Dev Date: 2011-08-29
Authors: Eric M Cooke; Todd Armstrong; Danielle Boisvert; Jessica Wells; Richard H Lewis; Sheree Hughes-Stamm; David Gangitano Journal: Psychiatr Q Date: 2018-12
Authors: Jessie R Baldwin; Louise Arseneault; Avshalom Caspi; Helen L Fisher; Terrie E Moffitt; Candice L Odgers; Carmine Pariante; Antony Ambler; Rosamund Dove; Agnieszka Kepa; Timothy Matthews; Anne Menard; Karen Sugden; Benjamin Williams; Andrea Danese Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2017-09-01 Impact factor: 7.217