Publications [#251251] of Avshalom Caspi

Journal Articles

1. Ordoñana, JR; Caspi, A; Moffitt, TE (2008). Unintentional injuries in a twin study of preschool children: environmental, not genetic, risk factors.. Journal of pediatric psychology, 33(2), 185-194. [17569713], [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/04/16)

   Abstract:
   

   Objective

   To analyze the relative contribution of latent genetic and environmental factors to differences in the injury liability of children, and to examine the association between measured socio-economic, family, and child-behavior variables and unintentional injury risk.

   Methods

   Unintentional injuries from birth to age 5, together with information regarding measured risk variables, were reported by mothers in a sample of 1027 same-sex twin pairs from a nationally representative 1994-1995 birth cohort.

   Results

   Child-specific environmental factors accounted for most of the variance (86.4%) in the likelihood of ever having an injury. When considering the risk of two or more injuries child-specific environmental factors explained 60.2% of the variance and family-wide environmental influence 39.8%. Measured socio-economic, family, and child-behavior factors predicted frequent injury.

   Conclusions

   Results give little support to the concept of a heritable injury-prone trait in preschool children; environmental influences accounted for most of the injury variance in this sample. However, behavioral variables, especially the child's externalizing problem behaviors, are also important in explaining unintentional injuries.