Julia
Kim-Cohen, Ph.D., of Kings’ College London, and colleagues
conclude that about 46 percent of the difference in children’s “cognitive
resilience,” or ability to score higher on IQ tests than their
socioeconomic background would predict, can be attributable to genetic
factors.
About 70 percent of
the variation in twins’ “behavioral resilience” — whether
they engage in less antisocial behavior than expected given their socioeconomic
background — is attributable to genetic factors, the researchers
add. Their study is published in the journal Child Development.
However, parenting
skills can make a big difference in a child’s
intellectual and behavioral well-being even after accounting for genetic
influences, Kim-Cohen says. For instance, any “stimulation” that
mothers provide, including visits to a zoo, park or house of worship, can
promote their child’s cognitive resilience in the face of poverty,
the study suggests.
“When children attempt to seek out experiences that will help them
overcome adversity, it is critical that resources, in the form of supportive
adults or learning opportunities, be made available to them so that their
own self-righting potential can be fulfilled,” Kim-Cohen says
Previous studies have
shown that poverty, poor housing and a family’s
perception of economic hardship can increase conduct problems and lower
cognitive abilities among children. Other research suggests factors like
emotionally warm parenting, educational opportunities and a child’s
own temperament can protect against a poor socioeconomic environment.
Kim-Cohen and colleagues examined actual IQ and antisocial behavior among
identical and fraternal twins compared to their expected IQ and behavior
given their level of socioeconomic deprivation. Children who were better
behaved and scored higher in IQ than expected were considered resilient.
Identical twins were more similar in their resiliency than fraternal twins,
suggesting that resiliency is partly genetically inherited, according to
the researchers.
The researchers say it’s still not certain how “active” or “passive” this
genetic influence might be. In a passive situation, “parents who
provide warm and loving care for their children may also transmit genes
to their children that promote good behavioral regulation and less antisocial
behavior,” they note.
Under an active scenario, “children have heritable characteristics
that evoke warmth and affection from adults, which in turn helps the child
curb problem behaviors,” Kim-Cohen says. Both active and passive
influences may be at work, she concludes.
The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the
UK Medical Research Council and Hallmark Cards.
