Evocative effects on the early caregiving environment of genetic factors underlying the development of intellectual and academic ability

This study examined gene–environment correlation ( r GE) in intellectual and academic development in 561 U.S.‐based adoptees (57% male; 56% non‐Latinx White, 19% multiracial, 13% Black or African American, 11% Latinx) and their birth and adoptive parents between 2003 and 2017. Birth mother intellectual and academic performance predicted adoptive mother warmth at child age 6 ( β = .14, p = .038) and 7 ( β = .12, p = .040) but not 4.5 years, and adoptive father warmth at 7 ( β = .18, p = .007) but not 4.5 or 6 years. These r GE effects were not mediated by children's language. Contrary to theory that r GE accounts for increasing heritability of intellectual ability, parenting did not mediate genetic effects on children's language or academic performance.