Early Life Adversity and Adverse Developmental Outcomes: Genetically-Informed Results from Two Nationally-Representative Samples from the United States

• In Event: Early Life Adversity as a Potent Source of Developmental Risk

Abstract

Early life adversity (ELA) has been identified as an important source of influence for a wide range of developmental outcomes. Previous research has indicated that children who experience greater overall levels of ELA are significantly more likely to disproportionately experience internalizing and externalizing problems, poorer educational outcomes, and physical health problems relative to children without such problems. Despite the overall development within this line of research, previous studies have overlooked the potential contribution of genetic influences to the examined associations, allowing for the possibility of biased results. The current study addresses this limitation in the existing literature by examining the association between ELA and a range of adverse developmental outcomes using two samples of twin and sibling pairs from two nationally representative samples from the United States: the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Findings from sibling comparison models provided mixed evidence for the examined associations, providing greater insight into the processes underlying such associations. Additional discussion surrounding the role of ELA as source of intergenerational risk is also provided.

Author

• Joseph A. Schwartz, University of Nebraska at Omaha