ERIC Number: EJ1026491
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-930X
EISSN: N/A
Gene-Environment Interplay between Number of Friends and Prosocial Leadership Behavior in Children
Rivizzigno, Alessandra S.; Brendgen, Mara; Feng, Bei; Vitaro, Frank; Dionne, Ginette; Tremblay, Richard E.; Boivin, Michel
Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Journal of Developmental Psychology, v60 n2 Article 3 p110-141 Apr 2014
Enriched environments may moderate the effect of genetic factors on prosocial leadership (gene-environment interaction, G × E). However, positive environmental experiences may also themselves be influenced by a genetic disposition for prosocial leadership (gene-environment correlation, rGE). Relating these processes to friendships, the present study examined (a) whether children with a genetic disposition for prosocial leadership possess a greater number of reciprocal friends (rGE) and (b) whether the number of reciprocal friends interacts with the effect of genetic factors on children's prosocial leadership (G × E). The sample comprised 275 twin pairs assessed in Grade 1 (mean age 84.7 months). Reciprocal friendship and prosocial leadership behavior were measured via peer nominations. Consistent with rGE, a genetic disposition for prosocial leadership was related to an increased likelihood of friendship. Moreover, consistent with a compensation process, environmental influences played a stronger role than genetic influences in prosocial leadership when children had many friends.
Descriptors: Genetics, Environmental Influences, Prosocial Behavior, Leadership, Friendship, Children, Twins, Grade 1, Elementary School Students, Peer Relationship, Probability, Foreign Countries, Longitudinal Studies, Individual Characteristics, Family Characteristics, Sociometric Techniques, Photography, Computation, Gender Differences
Wayne State University Press. The Leonard N. Simons Building, 4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309. Tel: 800-978-7323; Fax: 313-577-6131; Web site: http://wsupress.wayne.edu/journals/merrill/merrillj.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 1
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada (Montreal)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A