The association between emotional eating and depressive symptoms: a population-based twin study in Sri Lanka

AbstractThis study investigated the genetic and environmental contributions to emotional overeating (EOE) and depressive symptoms, and their covariation, in a Sri-Lankan population, using genetic model-fitting analysis. In total, 3957 twins and singletons in the Colombo Twin and Singleton Study-Phase 2 rated their EOE behaviour and depressive symptoms, which were significantly associated (men: r = 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06–0.16, women: r = 0.12, 95% CI 0.07–0.16). Non-shared environmental factors explained the majority of variance in men (EOE e2 = 87%, 95% CI 78–95%; depressive symptoms e2 = 72%, 95% CI 61–83%) and women (EOE e2 = 76%, 95% CI 68–83%; depressive symptoms e2 = 64%, 95% CI 55–74%). Genetic factors were more important for EOE in women (h2 = 21%, 95% CI 4–32%) than men (h2 = 9%, 95% CI 0–20%). Shared-environmental factors were more important for depressive symptoms in men (c2 = 25%, 95% CI 10–36%) than women (c2 = 9%, 95% CI 0–35%). Non-shared environmental factors explained the overlap between depressive symptoms and EOE in women but not in men. Results differed from high-income populations, highlighting the need for behavioural genetic research in global populations.

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Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Humor Styles: A Replication Study

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1375/twin.11.1.44 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 44-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Philip A. Vernon ◽

Rod A. Martin ◽

Julie Aitken Schermer ◽

Lynn F. Cherkas ◽

Tim D. Spector

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

North America ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Humor Styles ◽

Same Sex ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Mz Twins

AbstractOne thousand and seventy three pairs of adult monozygotic (MZ) twins and 895 pairs of same sex adult dizygotic (DZ) twins from the United Kingdom (UK) completed the Humor Styles Questionnaire: a 32-item measure which assesses two positive and two negative styles of humor. MZ correlations were approximately twice as large as DZ correlations for all four humor styles, and univariate behavioral genetic model fitting indicated that individual differences in all of them can be accounted for entirely by genetic and nonshared environmental factors, with heritabilities ranging from .34 to .49. These results, while perhaps not surprising, are somewhat at odds with a previous study that we conducted in North America (Vernon et al., in press) in which genetic factors contributed significantly to individual differences in the two positive humor styles, but contributed far less to the two negative styles, variance in which was instead largely due to shared and nonshared environmental factors. We suggest that differences between North American and UK citizens in their appreciation of different kinds of humor may be responsible for the different results obtained in these two studies.

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Cocaine use, abuse and dependence in a population-based sample of female twins

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.173.4.345 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 173 (4) ◽

pp. 345-350 ◽

Cited By ~ 113

Author(s):

Kenneth S. Kendler ◽

Carol A. Prescott

Keyword(s):

Cocaine Abuse ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Population Based ◽

Cocaine Use ◽

Past Half Century ◽

History Of ◽

Population Based Registry ◽

Twin Resemblance

BackgroundAlthough cocaine use in women has increased substantially over the past half-century, we understand little about the aetiology in women of cocaine use and abuse, and know almost nothing about the role of genetic factors.MethodWe obtained by telephone interview a history of lifetime cocaine use, abuse and dependence from 1934 individual twins from female–female pairs ascertained through a population-based registry, including both members of 485 monozygotic (MZ) and 335 dizygotic (DZ) pairs.ResultsThe prevalence of lifetime cocaine use, abuse and dependence were 14.0%, 3.3% and 2.3%. Probandwise concordance rates, in MZ and DZ twins, respectively, were: cocaine use 54% and 42%; cocaine abuse 47% and 8% and cocaine dependence 35% and 0%. In MZ and DZ twins, odds ratios were: cocaine use 14.2 and 6.7 and cocaine abuse 40.8 and 2.7. Biometrical model-fitting suggested that twin resemblance for liability to cocaine use was due to both genetic and familial–environmental factors while twin resemblance for cocaine abuse and symptoms of dependence was due solely to genetic factors. Estimated heritabilities were: cocaine use 0.39, cocaine abuse 0.79 and symptoms of dependence 0.65.ConclusionsThe vulnerability to cocaine use and particularly cocaine abuse and dependence in women is substantially influenced by genetic factors.

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Body Mass Index and Depressive Symptoms: Testing for Adverse and Protective Associations in Two Twin Cohort Studies

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2016.14 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 306-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Markus Jokela ◽

Venla Berg ◽

Karri Silventoinen ◽

G. David Batty ◽

Archana Singh-Manoux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Body Mass ◽

Genetic Model ◽

The United States ◽

Population Based ◽

The Us ◽

Mz Twins ◽

Pair Analysis

Studies have suggested both adverse and protective associations of obesity with depressive symptoms. We examined the contribution of environmental and heritable factors in this association. Participants were same-sex twin pairs from two population-based twin cohort studies, the Older Finnish Twin Cohort (n = 8,215; mean age = 44.1) and the US Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS; n = 1,105; mean age = 45.1). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI; Finnish Twin Cohort), and by negative and positive affect scales (MIDUS). In the Finnish Twin Cohort, higher BMI was associated with higher depressive symptoms in monozygotic (MZ) twins (B = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.0, 3.0) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (B = 1.17, 0.5, 1.9) with BMI >22. This association was observed in within-pair analysis in DZ twins (B = 1.47, CI = 0.4, 2.6) but not in within-pair analysis of MZ twins (B = 0.03, CI = -1.9, 2.0). Consistent with the latter result, a bivariate genetic model indicated that the association between higher BMI and higher depressive symptoms was largely mediated by genetic factors. The results of twin-pair analysis and bivariate genetic model were replicated in the MIDUS sample. These findings suggest an association between obesity and higher depressive symptoms, which is largely explained by shared heritable biological mechanisms.

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Genetic influences on post-natal depressive symptoms: findings from an Australian twin sample

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291799008387 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 645-654 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

S. A. TRELOAR ◽

N. G. MARTIN ◽

K. K. BUCHOLZ ◽

P. A. F. MADDEN ◽

A. C. HEATH

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Major Depression ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Genetic Influences ◽

Conflicting Evidence ◽

Post Natal Depression ◽

Obstetric Factors

Background. Conflicting evidence exists on causes of vulnerability to post-natal depression. We investigated genetic and environmental influences on variation in post-natal depressive symptoms (PNDS) following first live birth, and sources of covariation with the personality trait Neuroticism and lifetime major depression occurring post-natally (DEP-PN) and at other times (DEP-XPN) to test for shared genetic influences.Method. Retrospective interview and questionnaire data from 838 parous female twin pairs (539 monozygotic, 299 dizygotic) from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council volunteer adult twin register were used for multivariate genetic model-fitting. Data on PNDS were evaluated for consistency with diagnostic interview assessment.Results. Genetic factors explained 38% of variance in PNDS (95% confidence interval 26–49%) and 25% of the variance in interview-assessed DEP-PN. The genetic correlation between PNDS and lifetime major depression (DEP-PN and DEP-XPN) was low (rg = 0·17, 95% confidence interval = 0·09–0·28), suggesting that the questionnaire was measuring a construct other than post-natally occurring major depression, possibly post-natal dysphoria. Associations between PNDS and obstetric factors were very modest.Conclusions. Findings suggest modest genetic influences on major depression occurring post-natally. Independent and stronger genetic influences identified for post-natal symptomatology or dysphoria (PNDS) justify further investigation.

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Environmental Factors Determine Where the Dutch Live: Results From the Netherlands Twin Register

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1375/twin.8.4.312 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 312-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Gonneke Willemsen ◽

Danielle Posthuma ◽

Dorret I. Boomsma

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Residential Area ◽

Postal Code ◽

Young Cohort ◽

Dutch Population ◽

Urbanization Level ◽

Age Cohorts

AbstractThe heritability of the degree of residential area urbanization in twins and their siblings in the Dutch population was examined. The postal code was known for 6879 twins and 2724 siblings registered with the Netherlands Twin Register and born between 1940 and 1983. Using data from Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2001), these postal codes could be related to residential area characteristics, including urbanization level. The degree of urbanization was assessed on a 5-point scale: very heavy, heavy, moderate, low and not urbanized. Genetic model-fitting was carried out in three age cohorts: young adults (born 1975 to 1983), adults (born 1965 to 1974) and older adults (born 1940 to1964). Twin and sibling resemblance in urbanization level was expressed in polychoric correlations. These correlations decreased from the youngest cohort (.66 to .86) to the oldest cohort (.20 to .58). In all 3 age cohorts, genetic factors did not contribute to familial resemblance. The influence of common environment decreased in importance from the young cohort (70% to 83%) to the old cohort (46% to 47%) and was lower in women than in men in all but the oldest age cohort. This study did not replicate Australian findings of a genetic contribution in the older cohorts; common environmental factors and, increasingly with age, unique environmental factors determine where the Dutch live. Future studies in European and other populations will reveal whether these results are specific to the Dutch population.

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Muscle Dissatisfaction and Muscle-Enhancing Substance Use: A Population-Based Twin Study in Young Adult Men

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1375/twin.9.3.431 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 431-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anu Raevuori ◽

Anna Keski-Rahkonen ◽

Richard J. Rose ◽

Aila Rissanen ◽

Jaakko Kaprio

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Twin Study ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Population Based ◽

Tetrachoric Correlation ◽

Polychoric Correlation ◽

Adult Men ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Best Fit

AbstractIn the population-based FinnTwin16 study, proportions of genetic and environmental factors contributing to muscle dissatisfaction and muscle-enhancing substance use were assessed in 319 pairs of twin brothers: 141 monozygotic (MZ) and 178 dizygotic (DZ) pairs. In addition there were 86 twin individuals from pairs in which only one co-twin responded. Of all respondents, 30% experienced high muscle dissatisfaction. The corresponding proportion of muscle-enhancing substance use was 10%. The subjects were similar in age (23.8 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23.76–23.84), body mass index (23.7, 95% CI 23.5–23.9), and waist circumference (84.5 cm, 95% CI 83.7–85.2), independent of their muscle dissatisfaction or muscle-enhancing substance use status and independent of their zygosity. The MZ polychoric correlation for muscle dissatisfaction was .39 (95% CI .17–.58) and .27 for DZ pairs (95% CI .07–.46). The MZ tetrachoric correlation for muscle-enhancing substance use was .65 (95% CI .28–.87) and .56 for DZ pairs (95% CI .26–.78). The AE model, where additive genetic factors (A) accounted for 42% (95% CI .23–.59) and unique environmental factors (E) 58% (95% CI .41–.77) of the liability, provided the best fit for muscle dissatisfaction. The CE model, where common environmental factors (C) accounted for 60% (95% CI .37–.77) and unique environmental factors (E) 40% (95% CI .23–.63) of the liability, provided the best fit for muscle-enhancing substance use. Both genetic and unique (nonfamilial) environmental factors are involved in muscle dissatisfaction in the population. Nongenetic factors (both familial and non-familial) appear to best explain the use of muscle-enhancing substances.

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A Genetic Analysis of Coffee Consumption in a Sample of Dutch Twins

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1375/twin.12.2.127 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 127-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jaqueline M. Vink ◽

Annemieke S. Staphorsius ◽

Dorret I. Boomsma

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Genetic Influences ◽

Psychoactive Substance ◽

Twin Registry ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Dutch Twins ◽

Twin Resemblance

AbstractCaffeine is by far the most commonly used psychoactive substance. Caffeine is consumed regularly as an ingredient of coffee. Coffee consumption and coffee preference was explored in a sample of 4,495 twins (including 1,231 pairs) registered with the Netherlands Twin Registry. Twin resemblance was assessed by tetrachoric correlations and the influence of both genetic and environmental factors was explored with model fitting analysis in MX. Results showed moderate genetic influences (39%) on coffee consumption. The remaining variance was explained by shared environmental factors (21%) and unique environmental factors (40%). The variance in coffee preference (defined as the proportion of coffee consumption relative to the consumption of coffee and tea in total) was explained by genetic factors (62%) and unique environmental factors (38%).

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Genetic and environmental influences on anorexia nervosa syndromes in a population–based twin sample

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291701003725 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 737-740 ◽

Cited By ~ 132

Author(s):

K. L. KLUMP ◽

K. B. MILLER ◽

P. K. KEEL ◽

M. McGUE ◽

W. G. IACONO

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Environmental Influences ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Population Based ◽

Self Report ◽

Structured Interviews

Background. Genetic and environmental influences on broadly-defined anorexia nervosa (AN) syndrome were examined in a population-based twin sample.Methods. AN syndrome was assessed in 672 female 17 year-old twins using structured interviews and a self-report questionnaire.Results. Twenty-six probands with AN syndrome were identified. Biometrical model-fitting analyses indicated that genetic and non-shared environmental factors accounted for 74 % and 26 % of the variance in AN syndrome, respectively.Conclusions. Findings support previous research indicating significant genetic and non-shared environmental influences on AN syndromes.

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Genetic and Environmental Etiologies of Adolescent Dysfunctional Attitudes: A Twin Study

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2013.85 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 16-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jie Chen ◽

Xinying Li

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Twin Study ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Age Groups ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Dysfunctional Attitudes ◽

Dysfunctional Attitude ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Adolescent Twins ◽

Age Range

Despite the importance of dysfunctional attitudes in the development and maintenance of depression, little is known about the etiological origin of dysfunctional attitudes. The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale for Children was administered to 674 adolescent twins derived from the Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt). Four hundred and thirty-nine monozygotic and 235 same-gender dizygotic twin pairs were included. Approximately 54% were females. The age range of the twins was 11–17 years. Model-fitting analyses were conducted. Biometric genetic model-fitting estimates indicated that additive genetic factors accounted for 31% (95% CI: 11%, 45%) of variance in adolescent dysfunctional attitude. The influence of shared environmental factors was small and negligible (9% [95% CI: 0%, 27%]). Non-shared environmental factors explained 60% (95% CI: 55%, 66%) of variance. Equating the estimate parameters across gender or age groups resulted in a non-significant difference of model fit, but there were trends suggesting higher heritability in females and older adolescents. Our results provide evidence for moderate heritability of dysfunctional attitudes in adolescents. Dysfunctional attitudes can be used as an endophenotype to identify risk genes for depression.

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Genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of menstrual, premenstrual and neurotic symptoms: a population-based twin study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700032761 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 85-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

K. S. Kendler ◽

J. L. Silberg ◽

M. C. Neale ◽

R. C. Kessler ◽

A. C. Heath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Population Based ◽

Self Report ◽

Premenstrual Symptoms ◽

Menstrual Symptoms ◽

Multivariate Genetic Analysis ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Population Based Registry ◽

Anxiety Depression

SYNOPSISSymptoms during the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the female reproductive cycle were assessed in 827 pairs of female same-sex twins from a population-based registry. By conventional factor analysis, premenstrual and menstrual symptoms were relatively independent of one another and of baseline ‘neurotic’ symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression and somatization). Familial resemblance for menstrual and premenstrual symptoms was due solely to genetic factors with heritability estimates of 39·2% and 35·1%, respectively. Multivariate genetic analysis revealed distinct genetic and environmental factors for menstrual, premenstrual and neurotic symptoms. The genes and individual-specific experiences that predispose to premenstrual symptoms appear to be largely distinct from those which predispose either to menstrual or to neurotic symptoms. The generalizability of these results may be limited because only a modest number of premenstrual and menstrual symptoms were assessed, all by retrospective self-report.

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