2-133 - Genetic Risk for Externalizing Behaviors

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Decades of behavioral genetic research has established that there are genetically-influenced vulnerabilities to externalizing behaviors- i.e. outwardly expressed behaviors that violate social norms. However, the specific genetic variants that contribute to risk, and how genetic risks influence developmental change in externalizing behavior, have remained largely unknown. This symposium presents three papers that aim to deepen our understanding of genetic risk for externalizing behaviors, while also highlighting multiple methodologies for understanding biological risk. The first presentation examines the hypothesis that high levels of callous-unemotional (CU) traits delineate a highly heritable subtype of externalizing in adolescence, as has been previously found in childhood. This study finds evidence that genetic influences are maximized for aggressive behavior in the presence of high CU traits, a result that has implications for refining phenotypes for genetic association studies. Focusing on links between neuroendocrine processes and externalizing behavior, the second presentation examines associations between endogenous testosterone and rule-breaking and aggressive behavior in a second sample of child and adolescent twins. Results indicate that testosterone both mediates and moderates genetic influences on aggression, suggesting that genes involved in sex hormone pathways might be promising candidates for specific genetic risks. The third presentation leverages genome-wide polygenic scores as predictors of trajectories of binge drinking in a longitudinal sample of adolescents and emerging adults. Finally, the symposium will conclude with a Discussant, who will describe theoretical and methodological advances in the study of biological risk factors for externalizing, including how they intertwine with each other and with social environments.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Psychopathology

Chair

• Frank Mann, University of Texas at Austin

Discussant

• Luke W Hyde, University of Michigan

Individual Presentations

• Callous-Unemotional Traits Moderate Genetic and Environmental Variance in Aggression: Evidence for Gene × Trait Interactions - Presenting Author: Frank Mann, University of Texas at Austin; Andrew Grotzinger, University of Texas at Austin; Megan W. Patterson, University of Texas at Austin; Jennifer Tackett, Northwestern University; Elliot M Tucker-Drob, University of Texas at Austin; K. Paige Harden, University of Texas at Austin

• Hair Testosterone and Externalizing Behaviors: Evidence for Main Effects and Gene × Testosterone Interactions - Presenting Author: Andrew Grotzinger, University of Texas at Austin; Frank Mann, University of Texas at Austin; Megan W. Patterson, University of Texas at Austin; Laura Engelhardt, University of Texas at Austin; Jennifer Tackett, Northwestern University; Elliot M Tucker-Drob, University of Texas at Austin; K. Paige Harden, University of Texas at Austin

• Genome-wide Polygenic Scores for Externalizing Behavior and Trajectories of Binge Drinking across Emerging Adulthood - Presenting Author: Travis Mallard, University of Texas at Austin; K. Paige Harden, University of Texas at Austin; Jessica Salvatore, Virginia Commonwealth University; William R Corbin, Arizona State University; Kim Fromme, University of Texas at Austin