Poster #61 - Evolutionary Life History From a Differential Susceptibility Perspective: Is Pubertal Maturation Differentially Affected by Parenting?

• In Event: Poster Session 03

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that harsh family environments, such as chaotic life environments or rejecting, inconsistent parental behavior can lead to earlier pubertal maturation in girls (Belsky et al., 2010; Belsky, Steinberg, et al., 2007; Ellis et al., 1999; Holdsworth & Appleton, 2020; Sheppard et al., 2016). Previous studies have also found that higher quality of parent-child relationships as well as parental warmth were associated with later pubertal development in girls (Ellis et al., 1999; Ellis, Shirtcliff, et al., 2011; Graber et al., 1995; Meckelmann et al., 2013). Only a few of the above-mentioned studies included boys. Moreover, for girls findings have been inconsistent and effect sizes have been small (Zhang et al., 2019).
A possible explanation may be offered by another theory: According to the differential susceptibility theory, not all children are equally affected by the environment (Ellis, Boyce, et al., 2011). Highly susceptible children would, when exposed to negative environments, show more psychological problems, but would also benefit more from supportive environments. One study combining the differential susceptibility hypothesis with evolutionary life history theory has found promising results (Belsky et al., 2007). They found that in children with high negativity, maternal harsh control was associated with earlier menarche. In a similar vein, in children with high negativity, maternal sensitivity was related to later onset of puberty.
In the current pre-registered study, we will investigate the association between parental sensitivity and discipline and pubertal development, including male and female twin pairs. Families with twins have often been “neglected” when it comes to studying parenting effects. However, raising twins may be even more challenging than raising one child. Challenges such as dividing attention between the same-age twins and risks of jealousy and competition occur more frequently in twin families (Segal & Knafo-Noam, 2021). Moreover, we will investigate whether the children are differentially susceptible towards parental sensitivity and sensitive discipline. The twin study consists of two cohorts: an early child cohort (N = 239 families, Mage at T1 = 3.75, SD = 6.81) and a middle childhood cohort (N = 257 families, Mage at T1 = 7.92, SD = 0.66). We will conduct multilevel structural equation model using observed parental sensitivity and sensitive discipline as predictors and self-reported pubertal development at three yearly waves of measurement as outcome measure. To examine differential susceptibility, we will make use of novel polygenic scores derived from genome-wide association studies. Polygenic scores have the great advantage over candidate genes that many pertinent genetic variants are included which better represents the complexity of susceptibility traits that are polygenic.

Authors

• Jana Runze, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  Presenting Author

• Marian J Bakermans-Kranenburg, ISPA Lisbon

• Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, University College London (UCL)

• Irene Pappa, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam