Search Results

Author: Rowe, David C.
Resulting in 30 citations.
1. Cleveland, Hobart Harrington
Jacobson, Kristen C.
Lipinski, John J.
Rowe, David C.
Genetic and Shared Environmental Contributions to the Relationship between the Home Environment and Child and Adolescent Achievement
Intelligence 28,1 (February 2000): 69-86.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016028969900029X
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: Elsevier
Keyword(s): Genetics; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); Modeling; Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT); Siblings

The present study used prospective data to examine the relationship between the family environment (as measured by the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment-Short Form [HOME-SF]) and child and adolescent achievement, and to determine the genetic and environmental contributions to this relationship. Data are from 2108 full- and half-sibling pairs from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child data set (NLSY-Child). The average age of participants was 11.9 for older siblings (SD = 3.0) and 8.2 for younger siblings (SD = 2.8). The structural equation modeling program, Mx, was used to obtain the most precise estimates of genetic and environmental contributions to variation in the HOME-SF, variation in achievement, and to the covariation between the HOME-SF and achievement. According to the best-fitting, most parsimonious model, common genetic factors explained approximately one-quarter of the correlation between the HOME-SF and achievement, whereas common shared environmental factors explained the majority (75%) of this relationship. Genetic influences also accounted for over one-third of the variation in both the HOME-SF and achievement. Shared environmental influences explained 35% and 50% of the variation in achievement and the HOME-SF, respectively. The discussion mentions possible mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors exert their influence on the relationship between the HOME-SF and achievement.
Bibliography Citation
Cleveland, Hobart Harrington, Kristen C. Jacobson, John J. Lipinski and David C. Rowe. "Genetic and Shared Environmental Contributions to the Relationship between the Home Environment and Child and Adolescent Achievement." Intelligence 28,1 (February 2000): 69-86.
2. Cleveland, Hobart Harrington
Wiebe, Richard P.
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
Behavior Problems among Children from Different Family Structures: The Influence of Genetic Self-Selection
Child Development 71,3 (May/June 2000): 733-751.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8624.00182/abstract
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Inc. => Wiley Online
Keyword(s): Behavior Problems Index (BPI); Behavioral Problems; Children, Adjustment Problems; Children, Behavioral Development; Family Models; Genetics; Modeling; Siblings

To examine both genetic and environmental influences on children's behavior problems in households defined by marital status and sibling relatedness, this study applied behavioral genetic methodology to four groups totalling 1524 sibling pairs drawn from 796 households: (1) two-parent full siblings, (2) two-parent half siblings, (3) mother-only full siblings, and (4) mother-only half siblings. Model-fitting procedures found that within-group variation on four subscales from the Behavior Problems Index was best explained by a model including both genetic and shared environmental factors. This model was then fit to the behavior problems means of the four groups. Its successful fit to these mean structures suggested that mean-level differences between groups were explained with the same influences that accounted for within-group variation. Genetic influences accounted for 81% to 94% of the mean-level difference in behavior problems between the two-parent, full sibling and the mother-only, half sibling groups. In contrast, shared environmental influences accounted for 67% to 88% of the mean-level difference in behavior problems between the two-parent, full sibling and mother-only, full sibling groups. The genetic influences are interpreted in terms of genetic self-selection into family structures.
Bibliography Citation
Cleveland, Hobart Harrington, Richard P. Wiebe, Edwin J. C. G. van den Oord and David C. Rowe. "Behavior Problems among Children from Different Family Structures: The Influence of Genetic Self-Selection ." Child Development 71,3 (May/June 2000): 733-751.
3. Neiss, Michelle
Rowe, David C.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Does Education Mediate the Relationship Between IQ and Age of First Birth? A Behavioural Genetic Analysis
Journal of Biosocial Science 34,2 (April 2002): 259-275.
Also: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?decade=2000&jid=JBS&volumeId=34&issueId=02&iid=99800
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Keyword(s): Age at First Birth; Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB); Behavior; Childhood Residence; Education; Genetics; I.Q.; Intelligence; Kinship; Siblings

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

This study presents a multivariate behavioural genetic analysis of the relationship between education, intelligence and age of first birth. Analyses investigated the mediational role of education in explaining the relationship between intelligence and age of first birth at both the phenotypic and behavioural genetic level. The data come from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), a nationally representative survey that included genetically informative full- and half-sibling pairs (n = 1423 pairs). Respondents were aged 14 to 22 when contacted in 1979. Heritability estimates were 0.32, 0.50 and 0.06 for IQ, education and age of first birth, respectively. Shared environment estimates were 0.35, 0.23 and 0.20 respectively. Common genetic and shared environmental factors were substantial in explaining the relationship between intelligence and education, and also education and age of first birth. Education partially mediated the relationship between intelligence and age of first birth only in the phenotypic analyses. After considering the genetic and shared environmental factors that influence all three variables, evidence for mediation was less convincing. This pattern of results suggests that the apparent mediational role of education at the phenotypic level is in fact the result of underlying genetic and shared environmental influences that affect education, IQ and age of first birth in common.
Bibliography Citation
Neiss, Michelle, David C. Rowe and Joseph Lee Rodgers. "Does Education Mediate the Relationship Between IQ and Age of First Birth? A Behavioural Genetic Analysis." Journal of Biosocial Science 34,2 (April 2002): 259-275.
4. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Buster, Maury Allen
Rowe, David C.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Delinquency: DF Analysis of NLSY Kinship Data
Journal of Quantitative Criminology 17,2 (June 2001): 145-168.
Also: http://www.springerlink.com/content/t7n3h10664827068/
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Plenum Publishing Corporation
Keyword(s): Adolescent Behavior; Delinquency/Gang Activity; Family Environment; Family Influences; Genetics; Locus of Control (see Rotter Scale); Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) (see Self-Esteem); Rotter Scale (see Locus of Control); Siblings

This paper follows earlier research (Rowe et al., 1992) in evaluating the basis of family influences on adolescent delinquent behavior. Delinquency is measured in a number of different ways to account for important theoretical distinctions that exist in the delinquency literature. We use recently identified kinship structure in a large national data set--the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth--to estimate genetic and shared environmental influences on self-reported delinquency scores. Our analytic model is based on DF analysis, a regression procedure used to estimate parameters reflecting genetic and environmental influence. Results suggest a consistent and moderate genetic basis to sibling similarity in delinquency and little evidence of a shared environmental basis. A large amount of variance is attributable to nonshared influences and/or measurement error. Our findings suggest that the search for environmental influences on adolescent delinquency should focus on those that are not shared by siblings.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, Maury Allen Buster and David C. Rowe. "Genetic and Environmental Influences on Delinquency: DF Analysis of NLSY Kinship Data." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 17,2 (June 2001): 145-168.
5. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Cleveland, Hobart Harrington
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
Birth Order and Intelligence: Together Again for the Last Time?
American Psychologist 56,6-7 (June-July 2001): 523-524.
Also: http://content.apa.org/journals/amp/56/6-7/523.pdf
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Birth Order; Digit Span (also see Memory for Digit Span - WISC); Family Size; I.Q.; Intelligence

Responds to comments by R. L. Michalski and T. K. Shackelford (see record 2001-17729-012), D. J. Armor (see record 2001-17729-013), and R. B. Zajonc (see record 2001-17729-014) on the authors' original article (see record 2000-15774-002) that examines the use of within-family models in studies of the relationship between birth order and intelligence. In the aforementioned article, the authors concluded that although low-IQ parents have been making large families, large families do not make low-IQ children in modern US society. In this comment, the authors note that none of the comments do any ultimate damage to the methodological resolution proposed in their original article. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, Hobart Harrington Cleveland, Edwin J. C. G. van den Oord and David C. Rowe. "Birth Order and Intelligence: Together Again for the Last Time? ." American Psychologist 56,6-7 (June-July 2001): 523-524.
6. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Cleveland, Hobart Harrington
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
Resolving the Debate Over Birth Order, Family Size, and Intelligence
American Psychologist 55,6 (June 2000): 599-612
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Armed Forces Qualifications Test (AFQT); Birth Order; Family Size; Family Studies; Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Siblings

Hundreds of research articles have addressed the relationship between birth order and intelligence. Virtually all have used cross-sectional data, which are fundamentally flawed in the assessment of within-family (including birth order) processes. Although within-family models have been based on patterns in cross-sectional data, a number of equally plausible between-family explanations also exist. Within-family (preferably intact-family) data are prerequisite for separating within- and between-family causal processes. This observation reframes an old issue in a way that can easily be addressed by studying graphical patterns. Sibling data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth are evaluated, and the results are compared with those from other studies using within-family data. It appears that although low-IQ parents have been making large families, large families do not make low-IQ children in modern U.S. society. The apparent relation between birth order and intelligence has been a methodological illusion.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, Hobart Harrington Cleveland, Edwin J. C. G. van den Oord and David C. Rowe. "Resolving the Debate Over Birth Order, Family Size, and Intelligence." American Psychologist 55,6 (June 2000): 599-612.
7. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Hughes, Kimberly
Kohler, Hans-Peter
Christensen, Kaare
Doughty, Debby
Rowe, David C.
Miller, Warren B.
Genetic Influence Helps Explain Variation in Human Fertility: Evidence from Recent Behavioral and Molecular Genetic Studies
Current Directions in Psychological Science 10, 5 (October 2001): 184-188
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Inc. => Wiley Online
Keyword(s): Fertility; Genetics

To search for genetic influence on human fertility differentials appears inconsistent with past empirical research and prior interpretations of Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection. We discuss Fisher's theorem and give reasons why genetic influences may indeed account for individual differences in human fertility. We review recent empirical studies showing genetic influence on variance in fertility outcomes and precursors to fertility. Further, some of the genetic variance underlying fertility outcomes overlaps with that underlying fertility precursors. Findings from different cultures, different times, different levels of data, and both behavioral and molecular genetic designs lead to the same conclusion: Fertility differentials are genetically influenced, and at least part of the influence derives from behavioral precursors that are under volitional control, which are themselves genetically mediated.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, Kimberly Hughes, Hans-Peter Kohler, Kaare Christensen, Debby Doughty, David C. Rowe and Warren B. Miller. "Genetic Influence Helps Explain Variation in Human Fertility: Evidence from Recent Behavioral and Molecular Genetic Studies." Current Directions in Psychological Science 10, 5 (October 2001): 184-188.
8. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Problem Behaviors in Childhood: Behavior-Genetics Modeling of National Data
Presented: Denver, CO, Population Association of America Meetings, April 1992
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Population Association of America
Keyword(s): Behavior Problems Index (BPI); Behavioral Problems; Child Development; Children, Behavioral Development; Genetics; Home Environment; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); Kinship; Parental Influences; Siblings; Slutsky Matrix

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Using the NLSY child-mother data, the authors link Behavioral Problem Index scores for a large number of siblings and cousins and a smaller number of twins and second-cousins. With a behavior-genetics method from DeFries and Fulcher (1985), indicators of kinship similarity and differences are analyzed into sources attributable to heredity, common environment, and a residual that represents a combination of unique environment and measurement error. This residual is further analyzed to locate specific sources of unique environmental effects. When the residuals correlate with individual-level features of the home environment (as measured by the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment -- HOME --inventory), these features are implicated as possible sources that create differences between siblings that can lead to differences in their childhood behavior problems. Such measures include ones related to parental attention, parental discipline, and intellectual stimulation.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee and David C. Rowe. "Problem Behaviors in Childhood: Behavior-Genetics Modeling of National Data." Presented: Denver, CO, Population Association of America Meetings, April 1992.
9. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Social Contagion and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Developmental EMOSA Model
Psychological Review 100,3 (July 1993): 479-510
Cohort(s): NLS General
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Alcohol Use; Cigarette Use (see Smoking); Epidemiology; Modeling; Sexual Activity; Sexual Experiences/Virginity

Epidemic Models of the Onset of Social Activities (EMOSA models) describe the spread of adolescent transition behaviors (e.g., sexuality, smoking, drinking) through an interacting adolescent network. A theory of social contagion is defined to explain how social influence affects sexual development. Contacts within a network can, with some transition rate or probability, result in an increase in level of sexual experience. Five stages of sexual development are posited. One submodel proposes a systematic progression through these stages; a competing submodel treats each as an independent process. These models are represented in sets of dynamically interacting recursive equations, which are fit to empirical prevalence data to estimate parameters. Model adjustments are substantively interpretable and can be used to test for and better understand social interaction processes that affect adolescent sexual behavior. ((c) 1997 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved)
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee and David C. Rowe. "Social Contagion and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Developmental EMOSA Model." Psychological Review 100,3 (July 1993): 479-510.
10. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Buster, Maury Allen
Nature, Nurture and First Sexual Intercourse in the USA: Fitting Behavioural Genetic Models to NLSY Kinship Data
Journal of Biosocial Science 31,1 (January 1999): 29-41.
Also: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=10230&jid=JBS&volumeId=31&issueId=01&aid=10229
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Keyword(s): Adolescent Fertility; Age at First Intercourse; Genetics; Kinship; Locus of Control (see Rotter Scale); Pairs (also see Siblings); Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) (see Self-Esteem); Rotter Scale (see Locus of Control); Self-Esteem; Sexual Experiences/Virginity; Siblings

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Fisher (1930) presented both theoretical and empirical results concerning genetic influences on fertility. Since then, only sparse research has been done on the genetics of fertility, although more sophisticated methodogy and data now exist than were available to Fisher. This paper presents a behavioural genetic analysis of age at first intercourse, accounting for genetic, shared environmental, and selected non-shared environmental influences. The data came from the nationally representative National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). A newly developed kinship linking procedure was used that identifies links for cousins, half-siblings, full-siblings and twins in the NLSY. The results suggest a genetic influence in the overall dataset, and also among whites and in male–male and opposite-sex pairs. Genetic influences were extremely small or non-existent for blacks and for female–female pairs. Shared environmental influences were small for most subsets of the data, but moderate for female–female pairs. Two specific non-shared environmental influences – self-esteem and locus of control – were ruled out as accounting for any meaningful variance, although other general sources of non[hyphen]shared environmental influence appear potentially important. Analysis of selected samples from upper and lower tails suggested that genetic influences are important in accounting for both early and late non-virginity. These findings are consistent with work reported by Miller et al. (1999), who used molecular genetic methods. Generally, these findings support the existence of genetic influences and implicate non-shared environmental influences as being important determinants of the timing of loss of virginity among US adolescents and young adults.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Maury Allen Buster. "Nature, Nurture and First Sexual Intercourse in the USA: Fitting Behavioural Genetic Models to NLSY Kinship Data ." Journal of Biosocial Science 31,1 (January 1999): 29-41.
11. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Buster, Maury Allen
Nature, Nurture, and First Intercourse: Fitting Behavior Genetic Models to NLSY Kinship Data
Presented: New Orleans, LA, Meetings of the Population Association of America, May 1996
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Population Association of America
Keyword(s): Adolescent Behavior; Adolescent Fertility; Adoption; Age at First Intercourse; Contraception; Gender Differences; Genetics; Kinship; Modeling; Pairs (also see Siblings); Peers/Peer influence/Peer relations; Sexual Behavior; Siblings; Simultaneity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Newcomer (1994) stated that "Partners, peers, parents (maybe even genes) and the community all influence [adolescent sexual] behavior" (p. 85). Udry and Campbell (1994) surveyed the literature and found only one small study that accounted for genetic influences on adolescent sexual behavior. Apparently, little research has been done to address the role that genetic influences play in various aspects of fertility behavior, or the tradeoff between genetic and environmental influences. Udry's work (e.g., Udry, 1988) suggests an important role of hormonal influences in both male and female sexual behavior, and biosocial models of adolescent sexuality are becoming increasingly popular (e.g., Hofferth, 1987; Rodgers & Rowe, 1993; Udry, 1988). Fisher's (1930) work raised doubts as to whether it would ever be fruitful to search for genetic influences on fertility behavior. Plomin, DeFries, and McClearn (1990), drawing on work by Fisher and Falconer (1981), explained that potential changes in relative fitness across generations due to a particular trait can be measured by the amount of additive genetic variance in that trait present in the population. They concluded that we should "expect heritability to be low for major components of fitness, such as fertility" (p. 285), and suggest that most genetic variance in such traits should be nonadditive. However, this expectation depends on a long enough period of time that traits with selective advantage can realize that advantage. Our investigation will treat age at first sexual intercourse in the U.S. population. During the past several centuries, there have been secular changes--both up and down--in the age at first intercourse. Furthermore, the development of reliable and widespread use of effective contraception must weaken the selective advantage offered by early onset of sexual behavior in societies with little or no contraceptive use. Such changes could certainly act to weaken the selective value of early onset of sexual activity. Given these changes, it is an important theoretical question to ask whether genes play a role in influencing onset of sexual behavior. At the same time, the role of environmental influences is also of particular interest and importance. Our modeling will simultaneously address the role of both types of influence. The data we will use to address the role of genetic and environmental influences on age at first intercourse come from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (the NLSY), a national probability sample of households that started with approximately 12,000 youth aged 14-21 in 1979. To separate the contribution of genetic versus environmental influences requires data from different kinship levels (e.g., monozygotic versus dizygotic twins; adoptive siblings versus full siblings; etc.). Little of this type of information is contained explicitly in the NLSY, although the household structure of the NLSY data results in many kinship links being contained in the data. We have recently developed a linking algorithm (Rodgers, 1996) that uses several variables in the NLSY files to classify kinship pairs into adoptive, half, and full sibling, twin, and cousin pairs. We will use this kinship structure along with a recently developed regression procedure, DF Analysis, (DeFries and Fulker, 1985; Rodgers, Rowe & Li, 1993) to analyze variance in age at first intercourse into that attributable to genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental influences. Because patterns of sexual debut differ substantially across race and across genders, we will fit our models separately by these demographic categories.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Maury Allen Buster. "Nature, Nurture, and First Intercourse: Fitting Behavior Genetic Models to NLSY Kinship Data." Presented: New Orleans, LA, Meetings of the Population Association of America, May 1996.
12. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Buster, Maury Allen
Social Contagion, Adolescent Sexual Behavior, and Pregnancy: A Nonlinear Dynamic EMOSA Model
Developmental Psychology 34,5 (September 1998): 1096-1113.
Also: http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/dev/34/5/1096/
Cohort(s): NLS General
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Adolescent Behavior; Alcohol Use; Cigarette Use (see Smoking); Delinquency/Gang Activity; Fertility; Modeling; Pregnancy, Adolescent; Sexual Behavior

Nonlinear dynamic modeling has useful developmental applications. The authors introduce this class of models and contrast them with traditional linear models. Epidemic models of the onset of social activities (EMOSA models) are a special case, motivated by J. L. Rodgers and D. C. Rowe's (1993) social contagion theory, which predict the spread of adolescent behaviors like smoking, drinking, delinquency, and sexuality. In this article, a biological outcome, pregnancy, is added to an earlier EMOSA sexuality model. Parameters quantify likelihood of pregnancy for girls of different sexuality statuses. Five different sexuality/pregnancy models compete to explain variance in national prevalence curves. One finding was that, in the context of the authors' simplified model, adolescent girls have an approximately constant probability of pregnancy across age and time since virginity. Copyright: 1995 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Maury Allen Buster. "Social Contagion, Adolescent Sexual Behavior, and Pregnancy: A Nonlinear Dynamic EMOSA Model." Developmental Psychology 34,5 (September 1998): 1096-1113.
13. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Harris, David F.
Older Sibling Influence on Adolescent Sexuality: Inferring Process Models from Family Composition Patterns
Presented: Toronto, Canada, Population Association of America Annual Meeting, 1990
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Population Association of America
Keyword(s): Adolescent Fertility; Household Composition; Sexual Activity; Siblings

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and David F. Harris. "Older Sibling Influence on Adolescent Sexuality: Inferring Process Models from Family Composition Patterns." Presented: Toronto, Canada, Population Association of America Annual Meeting, 1990.
14. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Harris, David F.
Sibling Differences in Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Inferring Process Models from Family Composition Patterns
Journal of Marriage and Family 54,1 (February 1992): 142-152.
Also: http://www.jstor.org/stable/353282
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: National Council on Family Relations
Keyword(s): Hispanics; Household Composition; Sexual Activity; Siblings

To account for previous research findings that younger siblings are sexually active at an earlier age than older siblings, the hypothesis is tested that older siblings influence younger siblings to be sexually active. Opportunity & modeling influence processes are examined, using national survey data collected in 1979 from 3,336 families with siblings, but are not demonstrated to be strong predictors. An alternate maturation hypothesis is supported by findings that younger siblings physically mature earlier, but it is argued that this biological explanation does not account for variations in Hispanic populations. Other psychosocial explanations are discussed. 2 Tables, 34 References. C. McSherry (Copyright 1997, Sociological Abstracts, Inc., all rights reserved.)
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and David F. Harris. "Sibling Differences in Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Inferring Process Models from Family Composition Patterns." Journal of Marriage and Family 54,1 (February 1992): 142-152.
15. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
Li, Chengchang
Beyond Nature Versus Nurture: DF Analysis of Nonshared Influences on Problem Behaviors
Developmental Psychology 30,3 (May 1994):374-384.
Also: http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/dev/30/3/374/
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Behavior Problems Index (BPI); Childbearing; Height, Height-Weight Ratios; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); I.Q.; Kinship; Siblings

DeFries and Fulker (1985) proposed a regression modeling approach -- since named DF Analysis -- that separates heredity and common environmental influences using scores from kinship pairs. A number of adaptations have been developed and used in empirical research that demonstrate the breadth of application of DF Analysis. We begin by reviewing past work and the several DF Analysis extensions that have been suggested. Following, we describe a new extension of DF Analysis in which measured indicators of the nonshared environment are added to the model. These indicators represent specific sources of environmental influence that cause related children to be different from one another. We present two empirical studies using over 7000 5-11 year-old children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Within the NLSY we identify twin, full-sibling, half-sibling, and cousin pairs. The first study is a validity analysis of kinship height and weight data. The second study demonstrates the nonshared environmental extension through an analysis of problem behavior scores. Specific nonshared environmental influences that are investigated are spanking by the mother, reading by the mother, and quality of the home environment.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Chengchang Li. "Beyond Nature Versus Nurture: DF Analysis of Nonshared Influences on Problem Behaviors." Developmental Psychology 30,3 (May 1994):374-384.
16. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
May, Kim
DF Analysis of NLSY IQ/Achievement Data: Nonshared Environmental Influences
Working Paper, Norman OK: Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, March 1994
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma
Keyword(s): Cognitive Ability; Genetics; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); Kinship; Memory for Digit Span (WISC) - also see Digit Span; Methods/Methodology; Pairs (also see Siblings); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT); Siblings; Simultaneity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

DeFries and Fulker (1985) proposed DF Analysis to measure genetic and shared environmental variance in kinship data. We use an adaptation of DF Analysis that can simultaneously account for genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental influences within the same model. We fit this model to achievement measures from 5 to 12-year-old children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). The NLSY is a large national sample containing information to link kinship pairs at multiple levels, including cousins, half-siblings, full-siblings, and twins. 1044 pairs were identified by a kinship linking algorithm. The modeling approach measures heritability (h2) and shared environmental variance (c2), and tests for nonshared environmental influences. Potential nonshared influences that are tested include amount a mother reads to a child, books the child has, visits to the museum, visits to the theater, maternal spanking, and a general measure of the quality of the home environment. Several theoretical predictions are tested and supported. In particular, museum visits accounted for variance in a math test, books owned accounted for variance in reading recognition scores, and a general measure of the home environment accounted for variance in general cognitive ability.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Kim May. "DF Analysis of NLSY IQ/Achievement Data: Nonshared Environmental Influences." Working Paper, Norman OK: Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, March 1994.
17. Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Rowe, David C.
May, Kim
DF Analysis of NLSY IQ/Achievement Data: Nonshared Environmental Influences
Intelligence 19,2 (September-October 1994): 157-177.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0160289694900116
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Economics Department, Moore School of Business, University of Soutn Carolina
Keyword(s): Children; Cognitive Ability; Genetics; Home Environment; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); I.Q.; Intelligence; Kinship; Memory for Digit Span (WISC) - also see Digit Span; Methods/Methodology; Modeling; Pairs (also see Siblings); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT); Siblings; Simultaneity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

An adaptation of DF (DeFries and Fulker, 1985) is fitted to achievement measures from 5-12-year-old children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). This adaptation can simultaneously account for genetic shared environmental, and non shared environmental influences within the same model. The NLSY contains information to link kinship pairs at multiple levels including cousins, half-siblings, full-siblings, and twins. One thousand forty-four pairs were identified by a kinship-linking algorithm. From five specific measures of intellectual ability we estimated median heritability. We then tested for the presence of several specific non shared influences. As predicted differences between two related children in the number of books owned were related to differences in reading recognition scores and trips to the museum were related to a measure of mathematical ability. A general measure of the home environment accounted for non shared environmental variance in several specific measures of intelligence and in a general measure of cognitive ability.
Bibliography Citation
Rodgers, Joseph Lee, David C. Rowe and Kim May. "DF Analysis of NLSY IQ/Achievement Data: Nonshared Environmental Influences." Intelligence 19,2 (September-October 1994): 157-177.
18. Rowe, David C.
Under the Skin: On the Impartial Treatment of Genetic and Environmental Hypotheses
American Psychologist 60,1 (January 2005): 60-70.
Also: http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/amp60160.pdf
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Genetics; Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Racial Differences

Environmental and genetic explanations have been given for Black–White racial differences in intelligence and other traits. In science, viable, alternative hypotheses are ideally given equal Bayesian prior weights; but this has not been true in the study of racial differences. This article advocates testing environmental and genetic hypotheses of racial differences as competing hypotheses. Two methods are described: (a) fitting means within structural equation models and (b) predicting means of interracial children. These methods have limitations that call for improved research designs of racial differences. One improvement capitalizes on biotechnology. Genetic admixture estimates--the percentage of genes of European origin that a Black individual possesses (independent of genes related to skin coloration)—can represent genetic influences. The study of interracial children can be improved by increasing sample size and by choosing family members who are most informative for a research question. Eventually, individual admixture estimates will be replaced by molecular genetic tests of alleles of those genes that influence traits.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C. "Under the Skin: On the Impartial Treatment of Genetic and Environmental Hypotheses." American Psychologist 60,1 (January 2005): 60-70.
19. Rowe, David C.
Cleveland, Hobart Harrington
Academic Achievement in Blacks and Whites: Are the Developmental Processes Similar?
Intelligence 23,3 (November-December 1996): 205-228.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289696900045
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Elsevier
Keyword(s): Black Studies; Child Development; Educational Attainment; Genetics; Intelligence; Pairs (also see Siblings); Racial Differences; Racial Studies; Siblings

Genetic and environmental influences on academic achievement were investigated in four groups of siblings: (1) White full siblings, (2) White half-siblings, (3) Black full siblings, and (4) Black half-siblings. Our expectation was that the variances and covariances among three achievement tests would have the same structure across the four groups. This expectation was confirmed by a quantitative genetic model that imposed equal factor loadings across groups. This best fitting model had two factors: a Genetic factor representing genetic variation and a Shared Environment factor representing environmental differences among families. Reading recognition, reading comprehension, and mathematics tests all loaded on the Genetic factor, but primarily mathematics loaded on the Shared Environment factor. The quantitative genetic model was next fit to the achievement test means. Its successful fit suggested that the genetic and environmental influences involved in producing individual variation were the same as those producing the group-mean differences. In this sample, genes accounted for 66% to 74% of the observed group difference in verbal achievement and 36% of the difference in mathematics achievement. Shared environment accounted for the remainder, 34% to 26% of the difference in verbal achievement and 64% of that in mathematics achievement.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C. and Hobart Harrington Cleveland. "Academic Achievement in Blacks and Whites: Are the Developmental Processes Similar? ." Intelligence 23,3 (November-December 1996): 205-228.
20. Rowe, David C.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
A Social Contagion Model of Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Explaining Race Differences
Social Biology 41,1-2 (Spring-Summer 1994): 1-18
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Society for the Study of Social Biology
Keyword(s): Behavior; Methods/Methodology; Modeling; Parental Influences; Racial Differences; Religion; Religious Influences; Self-Esteem; Sexual Activity; Sexual Experiences/Virginity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Purely psychosocial explanations of the fact that black US adolescents consistently report an earlier age of first intercourse than their white counterparts have been less than successful. Proposed here is an epidemic model that combines social contagion (a psychosocial process) & pubertal maturation (a biological process). This model permits social contacts among adolescents of the same age & also among younger & older adolescents. Applied to data from the 1979-1984 National Longitudinal Studies of Youth (N = 7,410 whites & 3,174 blacks at last interview), the model statistically fits the actual growth curve of sexuality well for whites; its fit is not as good for blacks. From computer simulation analyses, it is concluded that pubertal maturation may be more important in accounting for the racial difference in the onset of sexual intercourse than previously thought. 7 Tables, 48 References. Adapted from the source document
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C. and Joseph Lee Rodgers. "A Social Contagion Model of Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Explaining Race Differences." Social Biology 41,1-2 (Spring-Summer 1994): 1-18.
21. Rowe, David C.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
An 'Epidemic' Model of Adolescent Sexual Intercourse Prevalences: Applications to National Survey Data
Working Paper, School of Family and Consumer Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson, 1989
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: School of Family and Consumer Resources, The University of Arizona
Keyword(s): Adolescent Fertility; Behavior; Data Quality/Consistency; Hispanics; Racial Differences; Research Methodology; Sexual Activity; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Experiences/Virginity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

In this paper, the authors define diffusion models that reflect the spread of certain "adult onset" behaviors through an adolescent population. This general modeling approach has its roots in the mathematics of diffusion and in the epidemiology of infectious disease. Hence, we call this modeling approach "Epidemic Modeling of the Onset of Social Activities" (EMOSA). This paper applies EMOSA modeling to adolescent sexual intercourse using national data from the NLSY. The model allows for an "epidemic" process (the transmission of sexuality from a nonvirgin to a virgin) and a nonepidemic process (two virgins progressing to sexual intercourse). The model also requires that virgin females be pubertally mature before they will progress to sexual intercourse. The model gave excellent fits to national data on Danish whites and a good fit to American whites, but the model-fits for American blacks and hispanics were poorer. The authors cite evidence suggesting that the weakness of the latter model-fits may reflect problems in the reliability of adolescent sexuality data.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C. and Joseph Lee Rodgers. "An 'Epidemic' Model of Adolescent Sexual Intercourse Prevalences: Applications to National Survey Data." Working Paper, School of Family and Consumer Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson, 1989.
22. Rowe, David C.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
An 'Epidemic' Model of Adolescent Sexual Intercourse: Applications to National Survey Data
Journal of Biosocial Science 23,2 (1991): 211-219.
Also: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1637492&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0021932000019222
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Keyword(s): Adolescent Behavior; Hispanics; Modeling; Sexual Activity; Sexual Experiences/Virginity

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

This paper applies models of the onset of adolescent sexual intercourse using nation data from Denmark and the USA. The model gave excellent fits to data on Danish Whites and a good fit to American Whites, but the model-fits for American Blacks and Hispanics were not as good. The weakness of the latter model fits may reflect either real processes that the model does not capture or problems in the reliability of adolescent sexuality data.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C. and Joseph Lee Rodgers. "An 'Epidemic' Model of Adolescent Sexual Intercourse: Applications to National Survey Data." Journal of Biosocial Science 23,2 (1991): 211-219.
23. Rowe, David C.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Meseck-Bushey, Sylvia
Sibling Delinquency and the Family Environment: Shared and Unshared Influences
Child Development 63,1 (February 1992): 59-67.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1992.tb03595.x/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Keyword(s): Birth Order; Delinquency/Gang Activity; Family Environment; Family Income; Family Influences; Family Size; Family Structure; Gender Differences; Genetics; Illegal Activities; Kinship; Pairs (also see Siblings); Racial Differences; Self-Reporting; Siblings

A sibling research design is used to evaluate two hypotheses about sibling resemblance in delinquency: (1) a genetic hypothesis, which requires sibling resemblance to be independent of birth position and family structure; and (2) an environmental hypothesis, which requires moderation of resemblance by family composition and structure. The study used a subset of sibling pairs from the NLSY, a nationally representative data set, and uniquely, families of size 2, 3, and 4 siblings. The genetic hypothesis was generally supported for sisters and mixed sex siblings, but an environmental hypothesis or combination hypothesis may apply to brothers. The median sibling correlations, averaged over family sizes, were: r = .30, brothers; r = .28, sisters; and r = .20, mixed sex siblings.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C., Joseph Lee Rodgers and Sylvia Meseck-Bushey. "Sibling Delinquency and the Family Environment: Shared and Unshared Influences." Child Development 63,1 (February 1992): 59-67.
24. Rowe, David C.
Vazsonyi, Alexander T.
Flannery, Daniel J.
Ethnic and Racial Similarity in Developmental Process: A Study of Academic Achievement
Psychological Science 6,1 (January 1995): 33-38.
Also: http://pss.sagepub.com/content/6/1/33.abstract
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Inc. => Wiley Online
Keyword(s): Ethnic Groups/Ethnicity; Ethnic Studies; Family Environment; Hispanics; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); LISREL; Methods/Methodology; Modeling; Pairs (also see Siblings); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Racial Equality/Inequality; Racial Studies; Siblings

Correlation matrices were computed on academic achievement and family environment measures using longitudinal data on sibling pairs. Assessment instruments included the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment and an indirect measure based on sibling correlations for achievement. Data were from 1,130 children (mean age 9 years in 1988) of participants in the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The 8 * 8 correlation matrices were computed on Hispanics, Blacks, and Whites separately. When compared employing a LISREL method, the matrices were equal across the ethnic-racial groups, suggesting that developmental processes influencing academic achievement may be similar in Hispanics, Blacks, and Whites. A structural equation model with 4 free parameters was fitted successfully to a correlation matrix pooled across groups. The existence of minority-specific developmental processes was not supported. (PsycINFO Database Copyright 1995 American Psychological Association, all rights reserved)
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C., Alexander T. Vazsonyi and Daniel J. Flannery. "Ethnic and Racial Similarity in Developmental Process: A Study of Academic Achievement." Psychological Science 6,1 (January 1995): 33-38.
25. Rowe, David C.
Vazsonyi, Alexander T.
Flannery, Daniel J.
No More Than Skin Deep: Ethnic and Racial Similarity in Developmental Process
Psychological Review 101,3 (July 1994): 396-413
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Behavior Problems Index (BPI); Delinquency/Gang Activity; Ethnic Differences; Ethnic Groups; Hispanics; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); LISREL; Minority Groups; Pairs (also see Siblings); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Racial Differences; Self-Esteem; Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC); Siblings

Many studies adduce evidence of ethnic or racial dissimilarities in developmental outcomes (e.g., delinquency and achievement). Many researchers fail to distinguish between group average levels and developmental processes (correlations). Evidence is reviewed that developmental processes are nearly identical for U.S. Black, Hispanic, White, and Asian ethnic and racial groups. Using diverse and representative data sources, covariance matrices were computed for these ethnic groups and then compared by using a LISREL goodness-of-fit test. Not only were these matrices nearly identical but they also were no less alike than covariance matrices computed from random halves within ethnic or racial group. This article documents the importance of accepting ethnic and racial similarity of developmental processes. Thus, group average level differences may result from different levels of developmental antecedents working through common developmental pathways. ((c) 1997 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved)
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C., Alexander T. Vazsonyi and Daniel J. Flannery. "No More Than Skin Deep: Ethnic and Racial Similarity in Developmental Process." Psychological Review 101,3 (July 1994): 396-413.
26. Rowe, David C.
Vesterdal, Wendy J.
Rodgers, Joseph Lee
Herrnstein's Syllogism: Genetic and Shared Environmental Influences on IQ, Education, and Income
Intelligence 26,4 (November 1998): 405-423.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289699000082
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Economics Department, Moore School of Business, University of Soutn Carolina
Keyword(s): Education; Genetics; I.Q.; Income; Income Distribution; Intelligence; Kinship; Modeling, Biometric; Siblings

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Genotypes may influence the phenotypic associations among IQ, education, and income. To investigate this hypothesis, we believe that the appropriate methodology requires estimation of genetic and environmental influences using data able to separate these influences. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) is a nationally representative sample that contains genetically-informative full- and half-siblings (28-35 years old in 1992; Ns = 1943 full-siblings, 129 half-siblings). A biometric genetic model was fit that estimated the shared environmental and genetic variance components of IQ, years of education, and hourly income. The total heritabilities were 0.64 for IQ, 0.68 for education, and 0.42 for income. Heritabilities due to a common genetic factor were 0.35 for IQ, 0.52 for education, and 0.12 for income. Environmental influences due to a common shared environmental factor were 0.23 for IQ, 0.18 for education, and 0.08 for income. The model predicted a correlation of 0.63 between IQ and education and 0.34 between IQ and income. Sixty-eight percent of the former and 59% of the latter was genetically mediated; the remainder was mediated by common shared environment. These findings suggest that social inequality in the United States has its origin in both genetically-based traits and in different environmental backgrounds.
Bibliography Citation
Rowe, David C., Wendy J. Vesterdal and Joseph Lee Rodgers. "Herrnstein's Syllogism: Genetic and Shared Environmental Influences on IQ, Education, and Income." Intelligence 26,4 (November 1998): 405-423.
27. van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
A Cousin Study of Associations between Family Demographic Characteristics and Children's Intellectual Ability
Intelligence 27,3 (September 1999): 251-266.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289699000227
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: Elsevier
Keyword(s): Age at First Birth; Educational Attainment; Family Studies; Fathers, Absence; I.Q.; Memory for Digit Span (WISC) - also see Digit Span; Mothers, Education; Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT); Poverty; Self-Esteem; Siblings; Welfare

Cousins and siblings from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) were used to evaluate for several frequently studied environmental variables, the null-hypothesis that correlations with children's IQs represented causal effects. For the majority of the tests the null-hypothesis had to be rejected. Cousin correlations for age [of] mother at the birth of her first child, maternal self-esteem, highest grade completed by the mother, highest grade completed by the father, family poverty status, marital status of the mother, and number of children, suggested that these associations may for an important part be spurious and confounded by third variables that are shared by cousins and affect both the children's home environment as well as their intellectual abilities. Results for quality of the home environment were more equivocal and suggested at least smaller effects of third variables.
Bibliography Citation
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G. and David C. Rowe. "A Cousin Study of Associations between Family Demographic Characteristics and Children's Intellectual Ability." Intelligence 27,3 (September 1999): 251-266.
28. van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
An Examination of Genotype-environment Interactions for Academic Achievement in an U.S. National Longitudinal Survey
Intelligence 25,3 (1997): 205-228.
Also: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016028969790043X
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Elsevier
Keyword(s): Educational Attainment; Ethnic Groups/Ethnicity; Fathers, Absence; Genetics; Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME); Kinship; Marital Status; Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Math); Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT- Reading); Poverty; Siblings; Welfare

We examined whether genetic and environmental effects on academic achievement changed as a function of the quality of the children's environment. The study included a variety of observed environmental measures such as parental cognitive stimulation and poverty level, longitudinal information about previous environmental conditions, and a larger than average number of children who grew up in deprived environments. The sample consisted of 1664 pairs of full siblings, 366 pairs of half siblings, and 752 pairs of cousins who were on average 9.58 years old. Both a simple descriptive approach as well as significance tests performed with multilevel regression analyses showed little evidence for genotype-environment interactions. There was only a slight trend consisting of a linear decrease of total variance or nonshared environmental effects from deprived to good environments.
Bibliography Citation
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G. and David C. Rowe. "An Examination of Genotype-environment Interactions for Academic Achievement in an U.S. National Longitudinal Survey." Intelligence 25,3 (1997): 205-228.
29. van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
Continuity and Change in Children's Social Maladjustment: A Developmental Behavior Genetic Study
Developmental Psychology 33,2 (March 1997): 319-332.
Also: http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/dev/33/2/319/
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Keyword(s): Behavior Problems Index (BPI); Behavioral Problems; Children, Adjustment Problems; Children, Behavioral Development; Genetics; Modeling; Siblings

Two developmental models were used to study genetic and environmental mechanisms underlying continuity and change in children's maladjustment. The transmission model assumed that successive levels of functioning were causally linked and that earlier experiences or prior genetic influences affected later maladjustment. The liability model related continuity in problem behavior to stable underlying environmental or genetic factors. The analyses pertained on average to 436 pairs of full siblings, 119 pairs of half siblings and 122 pairs of cousins for whom maternal ratings of problem behaviors were available at ages 4-6, 6-8, and 8-10. Nonshared environmental influences appeared to be most important for changes in children's problem behaviors and did not have significant effects on age-to-age continuity. To represent the genetic and shared environmental mechanisms underlying stability in problem behavior, liability models without time specific effects were preferred.
Bibliography Citation
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G. and David C. Rowe. "Continuity and Change in Children's Social Maladjustment: A Developmental Behavior Genetic Study." Developmental Psychology 33,2 (March 1997): 319-332.
30. van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G.
Rowe, David C.
Racial Differences in Birth Health Risk: A Quantitative Genetic Approach
Demography 37,3 (August 2000): 285-298.
Also: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1hj1327113014059/
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Population Association of America
Keyword(s): Birthweight; Genetics; Infants; Mothers, Race; Racial Differences; Weight

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

The gap between black and white babies' birth weights in the US has remained largely unexplained. Rather than trying to measure all relevant variables, a genetically informative design was used to study the relevant importance of genetic and environmental factors, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Employing multiple indicators of "birth health risk," it was found that the racial differences increased with the magnitude of the shared environmental effects. This suggested that possible genetic effects would not pertain to fetal genes, although genes affecting the mother's physical or physiological characteristics could be important because they contribute to shared environment in the analysis. 4 Tables, 3 Figures, 49 References. Adapted from the source document.
Bibliography Citation
van den Oord, Edwin J. C. G. and David C. Rowe. "Racial Differences in Birth Health Risk: A Quantitative Genetic Approach." Demography 37,3 (August 2000): 285-298.