Publications [#253397] of Terrie E. Moffitt

Journal Articles

1. Caspi, A; Taylor, A; Moffitt, TE; Plomin, R (2000). Neighborhood deprivation affects children's mental health: environmental risks identified in a genetic design.. Psychological science, 11(4), 338-342. (Also available as a reprint (RP819) distributed by the Institute of Research on Poverty (http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/reprints/repabs.htm).). [11273396], [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/04/24)

   Abstract:
   The possibility that neighborhood conditions affect children's development has captured much attention because of its implications for prevention. But does growing up in deprived neighborhoods matter above and beyond a genetic liability to behavior problems, if genetically vulnerable families tend to concentrate in poor neighborhoods? A nationwide study of 2-year-old twins shows that children in deprived neighborhoods were at increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems over and above any genetic liability. Environmental factors shared by members of a family accounted for 20% of the population variation in children's behavior problems, and neighborhood deprivation accounted for 5% of this family-wide environmental effect. The results suggest that the link between poor neighborhoods and children's mental health may be a true environmental effect, and demonstrate that genetic designs are environmentally informative and can be used to identify modifiable risk factors for promoting child health.