Evocative effects on the early caregiving environment of genetic factors underlying the development of intellectual and academic ability

Abstract

This study examined gene–environment correlation (rGE) in intellectual and academic development in 561 U.S.-based adoptees (57% male; 56% non-Latinx White, 19% multiracial, 13% Black or African American, 11% Latinx) and their birth and adoptive parents between 2003 and 2017. Birth mother intellectual and academic performance predicted adoptive mother warmth at child age 6 (β =.14, p =.038) and 7 (β =.12, p =.040) but not 4.5 years, and adoptive father warmth at 7 (β =.18, p =.007) but not 4.5 or 6 years. These rGE effects were not mediated by children's language. Contrary to theory that rGE accounts for increasing heritability of intellectual ability, parenting did not mediate genetic effects on children's language or academic performance.