Genomic analysis of the child might offer new
potential to illuminate human parenting. We examined whether offspring
(G2) genome-wide genotype variation (SNPs) is associated with their
mother's (G1) emotional warmth and intolerance, indicating a
gene-environment correlation. If this association is stronger than
between G2's genes and their emotional warmth and intolerance toward
their own children, then this would indicate the presence of an
evocative gene-environment correlation. To further understand how G1
mother's parenting has been evoked by genetically influenced
characteristics of the child (G2), we examined whether child (G2)
temperament partially accounted for the association between offspring
genes and parental responses.

Participants were
from the Young Finns Study. G1 mothers (N = 2,349; mean age 39 years)
self-reported the emotional warmth and intolerance toward G2 in 1980
when the participants were from 3 to 18 years old. G2 participants
answered the same parenting scales in 2007/2012 (N = 1,378; mean
age = 38 years in 2007; 59% female) when their children were on average
11 years old. Offspring temperament traits were self-reported in 1992
(G2 age range 15-30 years). Estimation of the phenotypic variance
explained by the SNPs of G2 was done by genome-wide complex trait
analysis with restricted maximum likelihood (GCTA-GREML).

Results
showed that the SNPs of a child (G2) explained 22.6% of the phenotypic
variance of maternal intolerance (G1; p-value = .039). G2 temperament
trait negative emotionality explained only 2.4% points of this
association. G2 genes did not explain G1 emotional warmth or G2's own
emotional warmth and intolerance. However, further analyses of a
combined measure of both G1 parenting scales found genetic effects.
Parent or child gender did not moderate the observed associations.

Presented
genome-wide evidence is pointing to the important role a child plays in
affecting and shaping his/her family environment, though the underlying
mechanisms remain unclear.