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Observational Study
. 2020 Nov;91(6):2255-2269.
doi: 10.1111/cdev.13365. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

How Heritable are Parental Sensitivity and Limit-Setting? A Longitudinal Child-Based Twin Study on Observed Parenting

Saskia Euser  1 , Jizzo R Bosdriesz  1   2 , Claudia I Vrijhof  1 , Bianca G van den Bulk  1 , Debby van Hees  1 , Sanne M de Vet  1 , Marinus H van IJzendoorn  1   3   4 , Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg  1   2
Affiliations
Observational Study

How Heritable are Parental Sensitivity and Limit-Setting? A Longitudinal Child-Based Twin Study on Observed Parenting

Saskia Euser et al. Child Dev. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

We examined the relative contribution of genetic, shared environmental and non-shared environmental factors to the covariance between parental sensitivity and limit-setting observed twice in a longitudinal study using a child-based twin design. Parental sensitivity and parental limit-setting were observed in 236 parents with each of their same-sex toddler twin children (Mage = 3.8 years; 58% monozygotic). Bivariate behavioral genetic models indicated substantial effects of similar shared environmental factors on parental sensitivity and limit-setting and on the overlap within sensitivity and limit-setting across 1 year. Moderate child-driven genetic effects were found for parental limit-setting in year 1 and across 1 year. Genetic child factors contributing to explaining the variance in limit-setting over time were the same, whereas shared environmental factors showed some overlap.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parameter estimates of the bivariate models. Note. Ac, Cc, and Ec = genetic, shared environmental, and non‐shared environmental factors respectively, that explain the covariance between the two variables in the model. As1, Cs1, Es1 = genetic, shared environmental, and non‐shared environmental factors respectively, that explain the variance in sensitivity at Wave 1 etc. for Wave 2 and limit‐setting.
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