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Gene–Environment Interplay Helps to Explain Influences of Family Relationships on Adolescent Adjustment and Development

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Biosocial Foundations of Family Processes

Part of the book series: National Symposium on Family Issues ((NSFI))

Abstract

It is clear that the family relationships have important and lasting ­influences on adolescent adjustment and development. Genetically informed ­studies have provided additional information suggesting that these influences are due, at least in part, to the interplay of genetic and environmental factors via genotype–environment correlation and interaction. Understanding the relative contributions of genes and environment and how they operate together through family relationships to influence development and adjustment is critical for advancing our understanding of the mechanisms involved. With the rapid advances being made in molecular genetics and in brain function, the added value of the use of quantitative genetic strategies has become less clear. This chapter describes different aspects of gene–environment interplay as related to family relationships, discusses relevant findings that help to elucidate mechanisms, and proposes a strategy that combines advances across fields to better understand how family relationships influence ­adolescent adjustment and development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Jenae M. Neiderhiser

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  1. Jenae M. Neiderhiser
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Correspondence to Jenae M. Neiderhiser .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Sociology & Crime, Law, &, Justice, Pennsylvania State University, Oswald Tower 513, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alan Booth

  2. Dept. Human Development & Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Susan M. McHale

  3. , Department of Sociology, Human Demograph, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, USA

    Nancy S. Landale

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Neiderhiser, J.M. (2011). Gene–Environment Interplay Helps to Explain Influences of Family Relationships on Adolescent Adjustment and Development. In: Booth, A., McHale, S., Landale, N. (eds) Biosocial Foundations of Family Processes. National Symposium on Family Issues. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7361-0_5

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