Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Psychology
First Advisor's Name
Gordon Finley
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Scott Fraser
Third Advisor's Name
Patricia Telles-Irvin
Date of Defense
7-7-1999
Abstract
Secondary analysis of 581 adoptees was utilized to determine if parental age is related, either genetically or environmentally, to the development of psychopathology.
The significant results showed that proband adoptees (with psychopathology in biologic relatives) with younger birthparents had increased alcohol abuse and those with younger birthfathers had increased antisocial personality while adoptees with older birthparents had increased depression. Analyses on control adoptees (with background free of known genetic disturbances) showed that those with younger adoptive mothers had increased antisocial personality and drug abuse and those with younger adoptive fathers had increased antisocial personality while adoptees with older adoptive fathers had increased depression.
Implications of these findings are that adoptees with both younger birth and adoptive parents are more likely to have externalizing symptoms, while adoptees with both older birth and adoptive parents are more like to have internalizing symptoms. This information is beneficial to those involved in adoption placement.
Identifier
FI13101540
Recommended Citation
Aguiar, Lyndon Joseph, "The genetic and environmental effects of parental age on the expression of psychopathology in adoptees" (1999). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1088.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1088
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Comments
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