Biology subjects

Boutwell, B. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Boutwell, B. B..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Exploring the genetic correlations of antisocial behavior and life history traits

Prior evolutionary theory provided reason to suspect that measures of development and reproduction would be correlated with antisocial behaviors in human and non-human species. Behavioral genetics has revealed that most quantitative traits are heritable, suggesting that these phenotypic correlations may share genetic etiologies. We use GWAS data to estimate the genetic correlations between various measures of reproductive development (N= 52,776 - 318,863) and antisocial behavior (N= 31,968). Our genetic correlation analyses demonstrate that alleles associated with higher reproductive output (number of children ever born, rg=0.50, p=.0065) were positively correlated with alleles associated with antisocial behavior, whereas alleles associated with more delayed reproductive onset (age of first birth, rg=-.64, p=.0008) were negatively associated with alleles linked to antisocial behavior. Ultimately, these findings coalesce with evolutionary theories suggesting that increased antisocial behaviors may partly represent a faster life history approach, which may be significantly calibrated by genes.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2017

The Association of Externalizing and Internalizing Problems with Indicators of Intelligence in a Sample of At-Risk Children

To date, a substantial body of research exists suggesting an association between indicators of intelligence and various deleterious outcomes, including externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems. Much of this research, however, has focused on samples drawn from the general population, thus it remains less clear how (and if) intelligence relates to problem behaviors in samples of highly at-risk individuals. The current study seeks to contribute to this knowledge base by examining the associations between intelligence and internalizing, externalizing, and total scores on the Child Behavioral Checklist in a sample of approximately 2,500 highly disadvantaged respondents considered by Child Protective Services as at-risk for abuse or neglect. While the two measures of intelligence performed differently, there emerged some association between overall lower IQ and higher total behavioral problem scores. There was some evidence that low IQ also predicted higher internalizing scores, but this relationship varied greatly by measure and model. Results, limitations, and implications of the current study are discussed.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Additive genetic and environmental contributions to the longitudinal association between violent victimization and depression

Research suggests victims of violent crime are more likely to suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to non-victims. Less research has utilized longitudinal data to evaluate the directionality of this relationship or examined the genetic and environmental contributions to this association across the life course. The current study evaluated 473 full-sibling pairs and 209 half-sibling pairs (N = 1,364) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (Mage = 20.14, SD = 3.94). Cross-lagged models were used to examine the directionality of effects between violent victimization and MDD over time. Biometric liability models were used to examine genetic and environmental influences on single and chronic violent victimization and MDD. Violent victimization was associated with increases in MDD during late adolescence, but MDD was more associated with increased risk for violent victimization across young adulthood. Biometric analysis indicated that 20% and 30% of the association between MDD and single and chronic victimization, respectively, was accounted for by common genetic influences. Results from the current study suggest individuals who exhibit symptoms of MDD are at higher risk for chronic victimization rather than developing MDD as a result of victimization. Shared genetic liability accounted for between 20 to 30% of this longitudinal relationship.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2017

On the heritability of criminal justice processing

An impressive number of researchers have devoted a great amount of effort toward examining various predictors of criminal justice processing outcomes. Indeed, a vast amount of research has examined various individual- and aggregate-level predictors of arrests, incarceration, and sentencing decisions. To this point, less attention has been devoted toward uncovering the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on variation in risk for criminal justice processing. As a result, the current study employs a behavioral genetic design in order to help fill this void in the existing literature. Using twin data from a national sample of youth, the current study produced evidence suggesting that genetic factors accounted for at least a portion of variance in risk for incarceration among female twins and probation among male twins. Shared and nonshared environmental influences accounted for the variance in risk for arrest among both female and male twins, probation among female twins, and incarceration among male twins. Ultimately, it appears that risk for contact with the criminal justice system and criminal justice processing is structured by a combination of factors beyond shared cultural and neighborhood environments, and appear to also include genetic factors as well. Moving forward, continuing to not use genetically sensitive research designs capable of estimating the role of genetic and nonshared environmental influences on criminal justice outcomes may result in misleading results.

epidemiology↗