Science Daily, a Web site devoted to research news, quoted Gene Brody, Regents Professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Steven Beach, director of UGA’s Institute for Behavioral Research, in an article about their findings that supportive parenting can offset a genetic risk factor that increases the likelihood that youth will engage in substance abuse.
“We found that involved and supportive parenting can completely override the effects of a genetic risk for substance abuse,” Brody said. “It’s a very encouraging finding that shows the power of parenting.”
“In families that were characterized by strong relationships between children and their parents, the effect of the genetic risk was essentially zero,” said Beach, who is also a Distinguished Research Professor in the psychology department. “With this study and previous studies looking at environmental risk factors such as poverty, we’re finding that in many cases the best way to help children is to help families become more resilient.”
