Deciphering the Overlapping Influences of Childhood Victimization and Genetic Factors on Externalizing Behaviors in Adolescence

• In Event: Outcomes of Childhood Victimization and Neglect

Abstract

Background: Childhood victimization is a robust risk factor for externalizing behaviors (EXT). While key theories in criminology offer explanations as to how these experiences may push toward or pull youth into manifesting these behaviors, the ‟environmental” hypothesis cannot be reliably tested without considering the potential overlap with genes. We tested whether victimization mediated the association between EXT and polygenic scores (PGS) for EXT, ADHD and educational attainment, and if victimization predicted EXT beyond these PGSs. Methods: 721 participants with prospective measures of maltreatment (birth-12 years) and peer victimization (6-12 years) reported EXT at 15 and 17 years. PGSs were calculated according to recent GWASs (Demontis et al. 2019, Linner et al. 2021, Okbay et al. 2022). Result: All PGSs predicted maltreatment (rs>.085, p≤.034), but PRSADHD, and all PGSs predicted peer victimization (rs>.111, p≤.003). Both forms of victimization partially mediated the PGSs-EXT association (indirect Bootstrapped CIs=.003-.027 and .019-.005). However, only abuse (not neglect) was a mediator (indirect Bootstrapped CI=.001-.024). Maltreatment and peer victimization remained predictors of EXT beyond the PGSs. Conclusion: Children may be at higher risk of victimization due to their genes, which partly accounts for the PGS-EXT association. Additional support is offered for the criminogenic role of childhood victimization.

Authors

• Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, University of Montreal

• Pascal Louis, University of Montreal

• Sara Scardera, McGill University

• Rachel Langevin, McGill University

• Ivan Voronin, Laval University

• Richard Tremblay Tremblay, University of Montreal

• Marie-Claude Geoffroy, McGill University

• Michel Boivin, Laval University