Parents may have more influence than they realize when it comes to shaping their children’s behavior, especially for those at higher genetic risk for conduct problems, according to Rutgers Health-led research. The study, published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, found that consistent parental monitoring – meaning knowing where children are, who they’re with, and what they’re doing – can help offset genetic risk for developing behavior problems during adolescence.
Conduct problems, which include aggression, antisocial behavior and rule-breaking, often begin in childhood and are among the most common reasons youth are referred for mental health services. These behaviors are linked to long-term challenges such as substance use, school difficulties and justice system involvement.
“While genetics contribute to why some children are more likely to develop conduct problems, this study shows that parenting really matters,” said Maia Choi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Translational Psychiatric Genomics Lab at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the lead author of the study. “High levels of parental monitoring appeared to buffer the influence of genetic risk – meaning that attentive, consistent parenting can make a measurable difference, even for children who are more vulnerable biologically.” To read the full story.