Multivariate maternal effects across the internalizing–externalizing spectrum in childhood: results from the Norwegian mother, father, and child cohort study
By summarizing the effects of parenting with indirect maternal genetic effects, we show a substantial contribution of parents with respect to internalizing-externalizing behaviors in childhood. Although parenting is multifaceted, the effects of parenting are general and can succinctly be described as a single common dimension. Further, our study demonstrates that direct genetic effects appear smaller and more complex when maternal genetic effects are accounted for, highlighting the confounding potential of parental effects in understanding the role of genetic differences in child psychopathology.
Authors
- Ziada Ayorech (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8372-421X)
- Nikolai Haahjem Eftedal
- Rosa Cheesman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6543-0402)
- Hans Fredrik Sunde (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-5422)
- Fartein Ask Torvik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3984-5978)
- Joakim Coleman Ebeltoft
- Eivind Ystrom
- Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Anneli Desiré Tandberg
Institutions
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO)
- University of Oslo (NO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70111
- Primary Topic
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Trond Mohn stiftelse
- European Commission
- Jacobs Foundation
- Novo Nordisk
- Universitetet i Bergen
- Universitetet i Oslo
- Norges Forskningsråd
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health