Qualifying paper defense for Anna Constantino-Pettit on July 30, at 2pm.
Title: Clarifying the Role of Maternal Childhood Trauma on Offspring Behavioral Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Trans-generational Associations
Zoom link:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/96483231566
Abstract:
Maternal Childhood Trauma (MCT) has been associated with variation in child and adolescent behavioral functioning. While this variation in offspring behavioral outcome is heavily influenced by genetic factors, existing research on MCT and offspring behavior has focused primarily on environmental drivers of this association. Both genetic and environmental considerations are important when estimating the effects of an environmental stressor within a single generation; therefore, both genetic and environmental influences should be examined when considering a trans-generational association. In estimating the trans-generational impact of parents’ life events on child behavioral outcomes, it is important to control for genetic factors that influence those behaviors and may be associated with the life events of parents. It is within this context that there exist new opportunities to more precisely identify causal mechanisms underlying observed associations between adverse early experiences and enduring behavioral outcomes in a subsequent generation. This systematic review identified studies whose designs were adequate to address both genetic and environmental contributions to the well-documented association between maternal childhood trauma (MCT) and offspring child behavioral outcome (OBO). Electronic databases were searched using a series of seven key words and phrases related to MCT and OBO. Thirteen studies, comprising a total sample size of 30,188 mother-child dyads, fulfilled the selection criteria for this review. In seven studies, genetic factors attenuated a significant share of the association between MCT and OBO. In two additional studies, the genetic influences fully accounted for the association. Collectively, data from this review support the rationale for considering both inherited liability and environmental exposure when aiming to disentangle or disrupt the trans-generational association between MCT and OBO.
