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Youth Appraisals of Inter-parental Conflict and Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Examination of GxE Effects in a Twin Sample

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An Erratum to this article was published on 26 June 2012

Abstract

Identification of gene x environment interactions (GxE) for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a crucial component to understanding the mechanisms underpinning the disorder, as prior work indicates large genetic influences and numerous environmental risk factors. Building on prior research, children’s appraisals of self-blame were examined as a psychosocial moderator of latent etiological influences on ADHD via biometric twin models, which provide an omnibus test of GxE while managing the potential confound of gene-environment correlation. Participants were 246 twin pairs (total n = 492) ages 6–16 years. ADHD behaviors were assessed via mother report on the Child Behavior Checklist. To assess level of self-blame, each twin completed the Children’s Perception of Inter-parental Conflict scale. Two biometric GxE models were fit to the data. The first model revealed a significant decrease in genetic effects and a significant increase in unique environmental influences on ADHD with increasing levels of self-blame. These results generally persisted even after controlling for confounding effects due to gene-environment correlation in the second model. Results suggest that appraisals of self-blame in relation to inter-parental conflict may act as a key moderator of etiological contributions to ADHD.

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Notes

  1. Model fitting was examined using two additional data preparation strategies when parsing the CPIC self-blame scores (e.g., dichotomous, quartiles). In both cases, the same pattern of results emerged, indicating that findings are robust to data preparation strategy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, E112 SSH, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Molly Nikolas

  2. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 107B Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Kelly L. Klump

  3. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 107D Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    S. Alexandra Burt

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  1. Molly Nikolas
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  2. Kelly L. Klump
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Correspondence to Molly Nikolas.

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Nikolas, M., Klump, K.L. & Burt, S.A. Youth Appraisals of Inter-parental Conflict and Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Examination of GxE Effects in a Twin Sample. J Abnorm Child Psychol 40, 543–554 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9583-6

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