Maternal psychopathic traits predict teens’ callous-unemotional traits a year later
A mother's emotional coldness may be a family risk marker for callous traits in teens with serious behavior problems. New research suggests the emotional side of maternal psychopathy predicts teens' callousness a year later, beyond their starting levels.
A study published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that teenage boys with conduct disorder may exhibit callous-unemotional traits a year later if their mothers possess psychopathic traits. The research, conducted by Nicholas D. Thomson and Jessica J. James of Virginia Commonwealth University, involved 99 teenagers and their mothers diagnosed with conduct disorder.
Mothers completed a questionnaire assessing their psychopathic traits, including interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial facets. The study found that a mother's psychopathic traits, particularly the affective facet, predicted the likelihood of her child developing callous-unemotional traits a year later, even after accounting for the child's starting levels.
Approximately 68% of the participants were Black or African American, 36% were white, and 4% were American Indian or Alaska Native. The findings suggest that caregiver personality may serve as a marker of family risk, although the study does not determine if genetics, parenting, or a combination of both contribute to the development of callous-unemotional traits.
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