Genetic and Environmental Etiology of Disregard for Rules

Abstract

Disregard for rules, a key component of oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, is stable during early childhood. This study investigates for the first time the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors underlying this early developmental stability. Maternal reports of child disregard for rules were obtained at four time points from 20 to 64 months of age in a population-based twin sample (N = 597 twin pairs, including 238 monozygotic and 359 dizygotic pairs). Structural equation modeling was conducted using both variance-covariance and latent growth curve approaches. Genetic factors accounted for most of the stability in disregard for rules throughout early childhood. In contrast, most environmental effects were age specific. Developmental stability in early symptoms of disregard for rules is best explained by the stable action of genetic factors, suggesting that preventive interventions should take an intergenerational approach, targeting at-risk families as early as possible.

The Quebec Newborn Twin Study Into Adolescence: 15 Years Later

“…We have documented variations in the genetic and environmental contributions to different forms and functions of aggressive behaviors, such as reactive versus proactive versus social aggression at school entry (Brendgen et al, 2005(Brendgen et al, , 2006, as well as to physical aggression, language, and their association at 18 months of age (Dionne et al, 2003). We also showed that the stability, but not the episodic manifestations of disregard for rules, a central component of early opposition, has a significant genetic component (Petitclerc et al, 2011). In contrast, cognitive school readiness before school entry was found more strongly accounted for by environmental factors shared and uniquely experienced by children of the same family than by genetic predisposition.…”

Comorbid Development of Disruptive Behaviors from age 1½ to 5 Years in a Population Birth-Cohort and Association with School Adjustment in First Grade

“…These items were included in Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (Statistics Canada, 1995), and originate from the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3 (Achenbach, 1992). The scale has shown good psychometric properties and stability between ages 17 and 41 months , and between 29 and 74 months (Petitclerc et al 2009), as well as a substantial genetic basis (Petitclerc et al 2011). All DB items were rated on a 3-point scale: 0/never; 1/sometimes; and 2/often.…”

Persistence and innovation effects in genetic and environmental factors in negative emotionality during infancy: A twin study

“…A few longitudinal twin studies have provided evidence that stability in certain traits and behavior patterns (activity, affect/extraversion, behavioural inhibition, disregard for rules, physical aggression), is substantially accounted for by genetic factors [29,30,33,34], while at the same time indicating that the genetic effects are developmentally dynamic, i.e. varying over time, with previously inactive genes coming online (genetic innovation; see [33, 34, 35]).…”

“…varying over time, with previously inactive genes coming online (genetic innovation; see [33, 34, 35]). Additionally, environment factors appeared to drive some of the change in temperament during this time [29,34,36].…”

“…It has been postulated that genetic factors may be largely responsible for continuity in temperament, whereas environmental factors are largely responsible for change in temperament [29]. Such findings have been documented (see [33 and 34]), but mainly during toddlerhood. However, genetic and environmental factors may operate or develop differently according to age- or sex-specific genetic innovations, occurring in early childhood [2,37].…”