Do polygenic indices capture "direct" effects on child externalizing behavior problems? Within-family analyses in two longitudinal birth cohorts.

ABSTRACT: Failures of self-control can manifest as externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression, rule-breaking) that have far-reaching negative consequences. Researchers have long been interested in measuring children's genetic risk for externalizing behaviors to inform efforts at early identification and intervention. Drawing on data from the Environmental Risk Longitudinal Twin Study (N = 862 twins) and the Millennium Cohort Study (N = 2,824 parent-child trios), two longitudinal cohorts from the UK, we leveraged molecular genetic data and within-family designs to test for genetic associations with externalizing behavior that are not affected by common sources of environmental influence. We found that a polygenic index (PGI) calculated from genetic variants discovered in previous studies

SUBMITTER: Tanksley PT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11922333 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature