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Cited by 264Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsMental Health Research Topics

How are parent–child conflict and childhood externalizing symptoms related over time? Results from a genetically informative cross-lagged study

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BURT, S. ALEXANDRA, McGUE, MATT, KRUEGER, ROBERT F., IACONO, WILLIAM G.·2005·Development and Psychopathology
DOI 10.1017/s095457940505008xPMC PMC2245887
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Abstract

The present study attempted to determine the direction and etiology of the robust relationship between childhood externalizing (EXT) symptoms and parent–child conflict using a genetically informative longitudinal model and data from the ongoing Minnesota Twin Family Study. Participants consisted of 1,506 same-sex twins assessed at ages 11 and 14, and their parents. The relationship between EXT and parent–child conflict from ages 11 to 14 was examined within a biometrical cross-lagged design. The results revealed three primary findings: first, the stability of conflict and externalizing over time is largely, although not solely, a result of genetic factors. Second, there appears to be a bidirectional relationship between conflict and EXT over time, such that both conflict and EXT at 11 independently predict the other 3 years later. Finally, the results are consistent with the notion that parent–child conflict partially results from parental responses to their child's heritable externalizing behavior, while simultaneously contributing to child externalizing via environmental mechanisms. These results suggest a “downward spiral” of interplay between parent–child conflict and EXT, and offer confirmation of a (partially) environmentally mediated effect of parenting on child behavior. This research was funded in part by USPHS grants (DA05147, DA13240, AA09367, AA00175, MH 65137), a National Institutes of Mental Health training grant (MH17069 to S.A.B.), and a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (S.A.B.). We also thank Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis for the research time that enabled the primary author to conduct this study.

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  • The cross-lagged panel model was also suitable to twin decomposition, as shown in previous studies using the same twin model, and examining the genetic and environmental associations between variables was a central aim of the study.

    “The cross‐lagged panel model was also suitable to twin decomposition, as shown in previous studies using the same twin model (e.g., Burt et al., 2005), and examining the genetic and environmental associations between variables was a central aim of our study.”

    From A cross‐lagged twin study of emotional symptoms, social isolation and peer victimisation from early adolescence to emerging adulthood (2023) · cites this paper as Burt et al., 2005

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Authors
BURT, S. A., McGUE, M., KRUEGER, R. F., & IACONO, W. G.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
ORCID
Venue
Development and Psychopathology
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2005-03
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
145-165
ISSN
  • 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2198
DOI
10.1017/s095457940505008x
PMC
PMC2245887
OpenAlex
W2023912062
Cited by
264
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 19
FWCI
11.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 37 d)
Locations
  • Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1k02aa000175-01)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA009367, R37AA009367, AA-00175, AA-09367)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 17069, T32MH017069, MH65137, R21MH065137)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA13240, DA-05147, R01DA013240, R01DA005147, R37DA005147)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
Keywords
parent-child conflict, bidirectional relationship, genetic factors, environmental mediation, parenting, downward spiral, Minnesota Twin Family Study, heritability of behavior, child behavior
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Age Factors, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Conflict, Psychological, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Male, Minnesota, Parent-Child Relations, Regression Analysis, Social Environment, Parenting

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