Observed parenting behaviors interact with a polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene to predict the emergence of oppositional defiant and callous-unemotional behaviors at age 3 years

Dev Psychopathol. 2013 Nov;25(4 Pt 1):903-17. doi: 10.1017/S0954579413000266.

Abstract

Using the Durham Child Health and Development Study, this study (N = 171) tested whether observed parenting behaviors in infancy (6 and 12 months) and toddlerhood/preschool (24 and 36 months) interacted with a child polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene to predict oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors at age 3 years. Child genotype interacted with observed harsh and intrusive (but not sensitive) parenting to predict ODD and CU behaviors. Harsh-intrusive parenting was more strongly associated with ODD and CU for children with a methionine allele of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene. CU behaviors were uniquely predicted by harsh-intrusive parenting in infancy, whereas ODD behaviors were predicted by harsh-intrusive parenting in both infancy and toddlerhood/preschool. The results are discussed from the perspective of the contributions of caregiving behaviors as contributing to distinct aspects of early onset disruptive behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / genetics*
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Conduct Disorder / genetics*
  • Conduct Disorder / psychology
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Empathy / physiology
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Behavior / psychology
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor