Question

In the study by Radtke and colleagues (2011), what was different about the children of mothers who experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy as compared with children whose mothers did not experience intimate partner violence?

a. There were no differences, demonstrating the resilience of the human body to stress.
b. They were more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors.
c. They showed DNA methylation of the gene associated with cortisol, the stress hormone.
d. They were more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Answer 1

The study by Radtke et al. (2011) found that children of mothers who experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy showed DNA methylation of the gene associated with the stress hormone cortisol. The answer is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the study conducted by Radtke and colleagues (2011), the finding of interest was that children of mothers who experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy showed differences compared to children whose mothers did not experience IPV. These children demonstrated DNA methylation of the gene associated with cortisol, which is the stress hormone. This epigenetic change is significant because it suggests that prenatal exposure to stress, such as IPV, can leave a biological mark on children that may affect their stress response system.