December 17, 2008

Gene Reduces College-Going for Men Who Lack Social Support

By David Glenn

Young men are less likely to attend college if they carry a common form of a gene associated with poor impulse control, a new study has found. But the study also found that a strong environment—a high-quality high school and heavily involved parents—can counteract that genetic risk. For boys with this gene who grow up in supportive environments, there was no drop in college attendance.

The study, which was written by three sociologists and a behavioral geneticist, examined