Child-Driven Parenting: Differential Early Childhood Investment by Offspring Genotype

Abstract A growing literature points to children’s influence on parents’ behavior, including parental investments in children. Further, previous research has shown differential response by socioeconomic status birth weight, cognitive ability, and school outcomes—all early life predictors of later success. This study considers an even earlier, more exogenous predictor investments: offspring genotype. Specifically, we analyze (1) whether genetic propensity toward educational success affects parenting during childhood (2) is socially stratified. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Survey Parents Children (N = 6,247), construct polygenic indexes (PGIs) for attainment (EA) regress cognitively stimulating behavior these PGIs. We apply Mendelian imputation missing approach allows us control both PGIs EA thereby achieve a natural experiment: Conditional genotype, genotype randomly assigned. In this way, eliminate possibility that child’s may be proxying unmeasured parent characteristics. Results differ behavior: singing child not affected PGI, parents play with children higher PGIs, (3) non-college-educated read education while college-educated respond less PGI.