Gene-environment Interactions in Families With Adolescents (Gen-omgevingsinteracties in Gezinnen Met Adolescenten)

English:

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the developmental trajectories of parents and adolescents in the Flemish region of Belgium. The investigators will focus on the role of genetic factors, environmental factors (e.g. parental rearing styles), and the interaction between these factors. Specifically, it will be investigated were difficulties or strengths in the development of adolescents can be attributed to. How an individual's genetic characteristics and his/her family environment can interact, will also be monitored. This study is closely related to the Leuvense Adoption Study (http://leuvenseadoptiestudie.be/). Just like this research, the investigators will take child and parent factors in account, as well as their interaction. The investigators will not only focus on vulnerability, but also on protective factors that can give resilience to both parents and children. The theoretical framework of this study is twofold. (1) In the development of children, genes and environment are interwoven in a dynamical relation. Neither genes or environment alone can explain how a child will develop over time. (2) The relation between genetic and environmental factors can be expressed in different ways. On the one hand, a certain genetic contribution can impact the way parents will uphold a certain parental rearing style. On the other hand, having certain genetic characteristics will have consequences for how adolescents will react to their environment. For example, a certain parental rearing style will strengthen some adolescents resilience, but for other adolescents this could equally lead to a more maladaptive development. Thus, depending on his or her genetic endowment, a child will develop differently given a certain family environment.