Genetic and Environmental Influences on Victims, Bullies and Bully-Victims in Childhood

Autor/inn/en	Ball, Harriet A.; Arseneault, Louise; Taylor, Alan; Maughan, Barbara; Caspi, Avshalom; Moffitt, Terrie E.
Titel	Genetic and Environmental Influences on Victims, Bullies and Bully-Victims in Childhood
Quelle	In: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49 (2008) 1, S.104-112 (9 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0021-9630
DOI	10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01821.x
Schlagwörter	Twins; Bullying; Genetics; Environmental Influences; Victims of Crime; Antisocial Behavior; Peer Relationship; Social Influences + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Twin; Zwilling; Mobbing; Humangenetik; Environmental influence; Umwelteinfluss; Victim; Victims; Crime; Opfer; Verbrechen; Peer-Beziehungen; Sozialer Einfluss
Abstract	Background: Three groups of children are involved in bullying: victims, bullies and bully-victims who are both bullies and victims of bullying. Understanding the origins of these groups is important since they have elevated emotional and behavioural problems, especially the bully-victims. No research has examined the genetic and environmental influences on these social roles. Method: Mother and teacher reports of victimisation and bullying were collected in a nationally representative cohort of 1,116 families with 10-year-old twins. Model-fitting was used to examine the relative influence of genetics and environments on the liability to be a victim, a bully or a bully-victim. Results: Twelve percent of children were severely bullied as victims, 13% were frequent bullies, and 2.5% were heavily involved as bully-victims. Genetic factors accounted for 73% of the variation in victimisation and 61% of the variation in bullying, with the remainder explained by environmental factors not shared between the twins. The covariation between victim and bully roles (r = 0.25), which characterises bully-victims, was accounted for by genetic factors only. Some genetic factors influenced both victimisation and bullying, although there were also genetic factors specific to each social role. Conclusions: Children's genetic endowments, as well as their surrounding environments, influence which children become victims, bullies and bully-victims. Future research identifying mediating characteristics that link the genetic and environmental influences to these social roles could provide targets for intervention. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10