Sibling relationship, family, and genetic factors in sibling similarity in sexual risk

Citation

McHale, Susan M.; Bissell, Joanna; & Kim, Ji-Yeon (2009). Sibling relationship, family, and genetic factors in sibling similarity in sexual risk. Journal of Family Psychology. vol. 23 (4) pp. 562-572

Abstract

Siblings’ risky attitudes toward sex and pregnancy and risky sexual behavior were studied in 1583 dyads from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. We tested moderators of the links between 2 siblings’ reports of sexual risk as well as mediators of the links between siblings’ genetic similarity and similarity in their sexual risk. Siblings’ sexual risk reports were correlated, and consistent with social learning predictions, associations were stronger between siblings with close relationships and in same-gender dyads and, to a lesser extent, between more genetically similar siblings and those closer in age. Consistent with behavior genetics’ hypotheses about gene–environment correlations, similarity in family warmth and sibling relationship closeness mediated associations between siblings’ genetic similarity and similarity in their sexual risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0014982

Keyword(s)

Genetic Sexual Behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Family Psychology

Author(s)

McHale, Susan M.
Bissell, Joanna
Kim, Ji-Yeon

Year Published

2009

Volume Number

23

Issue Number

4

Pages

562-572

DOI

10.1037/a0014982

Reference ID

1025