Parent-Child Correlations and Heritability of Stature in Philadelphia Black and White Children 6 to 12 Years of Age

Document Type

Article

Authors

Robert M. Malina, Unviersity of Texas, Austin, Texas
William H. Mueller, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
John D. Holman, University of Texas, Austin, Texas

Abstract

Parent-child correlations for stature and midparent-child regression for stature are considered in a cross-sectional sample of 806 Philadelphia Black (n = 422) and White (n = 384) school children 6 to 12 years of age. Children s statures were measured, while parental heights were reported on questionnaires. Parent-child correlations for the White sample are consistently higher than those for Blacks, and these differences reach statistical significance for father-daughter (p<0.01), father-child (p<0.01), and all midparent relationships (p<0.02). Heritabilities of stature in these two samples, as given by the midparent-child regression, are 37% for Blacks and 49% for Whites (p<0.001). Absence of assortative mating among Blacks and diminished parent-child environmental similarity are possible factors contributing to decreased similarity of Black parents and their children, although the possibility of greater step-parentage among Black fathers (i.e., social rather than biological father) must be considered.

Recommended Citation

Malina, Robert M.; Mueller, William H.; and Holman, John D. (1976) "Parent-Child Correlations and Heritability of Stature in Philadelphia Black and White Children 6 to 12 Years of Age," Human Biology: Vol. 48: Iss. 3, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol48/iss3/6