Our study was based on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a general population sample. Exposure to severe adversity is uncommon in ALSPAC (Sidebotham et al, 2006). We hypothesized that MAOA-LPR would interact with widely experienced early life stressors to influence behavior in pre-pubertal children. Firstly, we investigated the effects of both family adversity and stressful life events experienced at several time points from pre-birth to age seven on behavioral disinhibition: hyperactivity and conduct disturbances, assessed at ages four and seven years. Secondly, we investigated the main effects of MAOA-LPR genotype and the interactive effects of MAOA-LPR and stressors on behavioral disinhibition in boys and girls.
