The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality
Abstract This study aims to explore the influence of genetic similarity for neuroticism liability in mother’s reported quality of relationship with her child and partner. Such understanding could provide insight into the role of genetic similarity in neuroticism liability in close relationships. Mol...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14137-2 |
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| author | Rebecca M. Pearson Elizabeth C. Braithwaite Tim Cadman Iryna Culpin Ilaria Costantini Miguel Cordero Marc H. Bornstein Deborah James Alex S. F. Kwong Hannah Jones Hannah Sallis |
| author_facet | Rebecca M. Pearson Elizabeth C. Braithwaite Tim Cadman Iryna Culpin Ilaria Costantini Miguel Cordero Marc H. Bornstein Deborah James Alex S. F. Kwong Hannah Jones Hannah Sallis |
| author_sort | Rebecca M. Pearson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study aims to explore the influence of genetic similarity for neuroticism liability in mother’s reported quality of relationship with her child and partner. Such understanding could provide insight into the role of genetic similarity in neuroticism liability in close relationships. Molecular genetic data in 4,704 mothers, partners, and children in the Avon Longitudinal Study Parents And Children (ALSPAC) study were used to derive the proportion of genetic similarity in neuroticism liability between mother and child, and mother and partner, for genetic variants associated with neuroticism. Associations between genetic similarity in neuroticism liability scores and mothers’ reported enjoyment and conflict in the parenting relationship (child ages 0–3) and her reported partner relationship were examined. For a one standard deviation (SD) increase in similarity in mother and child genetic variants associated with neuroticism, there was a 0.15SD (95%CI = 0.003 to 0.500, p = 0.046) increase in maternal reported enjoyment in their relationship. This association was greater where mother and child were both in the top quartile for high neuroticism (standardised beta = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.02 to 0.56, p = 0.034). Similar patterns of results emerged for similarity for genetic variants associated with neuroticism between mothers and partners, and the quality of the mother-partner relationship. These results highlight how phenotypic variation (i.e. the link between PGS scores and mothers reported enjoyment) linked to genetic liability in one individual may be linked with the genetic liability of those around them (i.e. the genetic liability of the infant). In other words, parenting and intimate partner relationships as perceived by the mother were explained not by one or the other’s genetic score, but by the similarity between them These exploratory findings present an intriguing mechanism by which similarity between genetic liability might be linked to family relationships. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9cde7ee6788b4c4a8e629c227696668f2025-08-20T03:43:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-14137-2The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship qualityRebecca M. Pearson0Elizabeth C. Braithwaite1Tim Cadman2Iryna Culpin3Ilaria Costantini4Miguel Cordero5Marc H. Bornstein6Deborah James7Alex S. F. Kwong8Hannah Jones9Hannah Sallis10School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversitySchool of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversitySection of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of CopenhagenCentre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityInstituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo Facultad de Medicina Clínica AlemanaEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentSchool of Education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityDivision of Psychiatry, University of EdinburghCentre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolCentre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolAbstract This study aims to explore the influence of genetic similarity for neuroticism liability in mother’s reported quality of relationship with her child and partner. Such understanding could provide insight into the role of genetic similarity in neuroticism liability in close relationships. Molecular genetic data in 4,704 mothers, partners, and children in the Avon Longitudinal Study Parents And Children (ALSPAC) study were used to derive the proportion of genetic similarity in neuroticism liability between mother and child, and mother and partner, for genetic variants associated with neuroticism. Associations between genetic similarity in neuroticism liability scores and mothers’ reported enjoyment and conflict in the parenting relationship (child ages 0–3) and her reported partner relationship were examined. For a one standard deviation (SD) increase in similarity in mother and child genetic variants associated with neuroticism, there was a 0.15SD (95%CI = 0.003 to 0.500, p = 0.046) increase in maternal reported enjoyment in their relationship. This association was greater where mother and child were both in the top quartile for high neuroticism (standardised beta = 0.29, 95%CI = 0.02 to 0.56, p = 0.034). Similar patterns of results emerged for similarity for genetic variants associated with neuroticism between mothers and partners, and the quality of the mother-partner relationship. These results highlight how phenotypic variation (i.e. the link between PGS scores and mothers reported enjoyment) linked to genetic liability in one individual may be linked with the genetic liability of those around them (i.e. the genetic liability of the infant). In other words, parenting and intimate partner relationships as perceived by the mother were explained not by one or the other’s genetic score, but by the similarity between them These exploratory findings present an intriguing mechanism by which similarity between genetic liability might be linked to family relationships.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14137-2NeuroticismPolygenic scoresGenetic similarity in neuroticism liabilityRelationship qualityMarital conflictALSPAC |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca M. Pearson Elizabeth C. Braithwaite Tim Cadman Iryna Culpin Ilaria Costantini Miguel Cordero Marc H. Bornstein Deborah James Alex S. F. Kwong Hannah Jones Hannah Sallis The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality Scientific Reports Neuroticism Polygenic scores Genetic similarity in neuroticism liability Relationship quality Marital conflict ALSPAC |
| title | The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| title_full | The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| title_fullStr | The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| title_short | The proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother–child and mother–father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| title_sort | proportion of genetic similarity for liability for neuroticism in mother child and mother father dyads is associated with reported relationship quality |
| topic | Neuroticism Polygenic scores Genetic similarity in neuroticism liability Relationship quality Marital conflict ALSPAC |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14137-2 |
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