Genetic and environmental influences on observed personality: Evidence from the German Observational Study of Adult Twins.

2001 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Borkenau ◽  
Rainer Riemann ◽  
Alois Angleitner ◽  
Frank M. Spinath
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Adult Twins

scholarly journals Association between symptoms of sleep apnea and problem behaviors in young adult twins and siblings

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Juan J. Madrid-Valero ◽  
Nicola L. Barclay ◽  
Richard Rowe ◽  
Rotem Perach ◽  
Daniel J. Buysse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Adult Twins ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and it is related to multiple negative health consequences. Previous studies have shown that sleep apnea is influenced by genetic factors. However, studies have not investigated the genetic and environmental influences of symptoms of sleep apnea in young adults. Furthermore, the underpinnings of the relationship between apnea symptoms and internalizing/externalizing problems are unknown. The objectives of this study were to estimate the magnitude of: (1) genetic and environmental influences on self-reported apnea symptoms; (2) the relationship between self-reported apnea symptoms and internalizing/externalizing traits; (3) genetic and environmental influences on the associations between self-reported apnea symptoms, internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors. Methods In a twin/sibling study, univariate and multivariate models were fitted to estimate both individual variance and sources of covariance between symptoms of sleep apnea and internalizing/externalizing behaviors. Results Our results show that genetic influences account for 40% of the variance in sleep apnea symptoms. Moreover, there are modest associations between depression, anxiety and externalizing behaviors with apnea symptoms (ranging from r = 0.22–0.29). However, the origins of these associations differ. For example, whereas most of the covariation between symptoms of depression and sleep apnea can be explained by genes (95%), there was a larger role for the environment (53%) in the association between symptoms of anxiety and sleep apnea. Conclusions Genetic factors explain a significant proportion of variance in symptoms of apnea and most of the covariance with depression.

The Bielefeld Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins (BiLSAT)

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kandler ◽  
Rainer Riemann ◽  
Frank M. Spinath ◽  
Wiebke Bleidorn ◽  
Wolfgang Thiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Major Life Events ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Adult Twins ◽  
Peer Reports ◽  
Future Plans

The Bielefeld Longitudinal Study of Adult Twins (BiLSAT) is a German longitudinal study of monozygotic and dizygotic twins reared together, including more than 1,100 twin pairs aged between 14 and 80 who participated in the first wave. Data were collected at five waves of assessment between 1993 and 2009. Initially, the study focused on genetic and environmental influences on the structure and the development in adult temperament and personality. Today, the study includes a broad range of individual variables, such as personality disorders, major life goals, interests, attitudes, values, life and work satisfaction, and major life events. A special feature of this genetically informative study lies in the multiple-rater approach (i.e., self-reports and peer reports). Longitudinal multiple-rater analyses allow researchers to go beyond the basic nature–nurture decomposition of variance in self-reports examining genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in more accurately measured individual attributes. In the current article, we briefly describe the design and contents of BiLSAT as well as some recent major findings and future plans.

scholarly journals Associations between diurnal preference, sleep quality and externalizing behaviours: a behavioural genetic analysis

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1029-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. Barclay ◽  
T. C. Eley ◽  
B. Maughan ◽  
R. Rowe ◽  
A. M. Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
Genetic Influences ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Diurnal Preference ◽  
Adult Twins ◽  
Shared Genetic

BackgroundCertain aspects of sleep co-occur with externalizing behaviours in youth, yet little is known about these associations in adults. The present study: (1) examines the associations between diurnal preference (morningness versus eveningness), sleep quality and externalizing behaviours; (2) explores the extent to which genetic and environmental influences are shared between or are unique to these phenotypes; (3) examines the extent to which genetic and environmental influences account for these associations.MethodQuestionnaires assessing diurnal preference, sleep quality and externalizing behaviours were completed by 1556 young adult twins and siblings.ResultsA preference for eveningness and poor sleep quality were associated with greater externalizing symptoms [r=0.28 (95% CI 0.23–0.33) and 0.34 (95% CI 0.28–0.39), respectively]. A total of 18% of the genetic influences on externalizing behaviours were shared with diurnal preference and sleep quality and an additional 14% were shared with sleep quality alone. Non-shared environmental influences common to the phenotypes were small (2%). The association between diurnal preference and externalizing behaviours was mostly explained by genetic influences [additive genetic influence (A)=80% (95% CI 0.56–1.01)], as was the association between sleep quality and externalizing behaviours [A=81% (95% CI 0.62–0.99)]. Non-shared environmental (E) influences accounted for the remaining variance for both associations [E=20% (95% CI −0.01 to 0.44) and 19% (95% CI 0.01–0.38), respectively].ConclusionsA preference for eveningness and poor sleep quality are moderately associated with externalizing behaviours in young adults. There is a moderate amount of shared genetic influences between the phenotypes and genetic influences account for a large proportion of the association between sleep and externalizing behaviours. Further research could focus on identifying specific genetic polymorphisms common to both sleep and externalizing behaviours.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic modifiers of genetic and environmental influences on body mass index in adult twins.

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Dinescu ◽  
Erin E. Horn ◽  
Glen Duncan ◽  
Eric Turkheimer
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Adult Twins

Interaction Between Experience Seeking and Genetic and Environmental Influences on General Cognitive Ability

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna A. E. Vinkhuyzen ◽  
Sophie van der Sluis ◽  
Danielle Posthuma
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Environmental Causes ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Adult Twins

Although it is well established that experience seeking behavior (ES) is positively related to cognitive functioning, the mechanisms underlying this association are not clearly understood. In a large sample of adult twins and siblings (N = 864, age range 23–75), we studied the causes of covariation between ES and general cognitive ability and we studied whether ES moderates the genetic and environmental causes of variation in general cognitive ability. Results demonstrate a phenotypic correlation of .17 (p <.001) between general cognitive ability and ES, with a common genetic and common environmental background. Moreover, the extent to which genetic and environmental factors are shared between general cognitive ability and ES is increased in individuals with either lower or higher levels of ES. In addition, the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence individual differences in general cognitive ability in adults partly depended on ES. Standardized influences of additive genetic factors on general cognitive ability ranged from 13% to 99%, with lower estimates in higher levels of ES, while standardized estimates of environmental factors ranged from almost 1% to 87%, with higher estimates in higher levels of ES. Hence, ES and cognitive ability are not only associated through common genetic and environmental factors, but also via moderating effects of genetic and environmental influences on cognitive ability by ES. These findings have implications for future studies on the association between ES and general cognitive ability, and for future research on the genetics of cognitive ability.

Moderation of genetic and environmental influences on diurnal preference by age in adult twins

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola L. Barclay ◽  
Nathaniel F. Watson ◽  
Dedra Buchwald ◽  
Jack Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Diurnal Preference ◽  
Adult Twins

scholarly journals Psychiatric resilience: longitudinal twin study

2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda B. Amstadter ◽  
John M. Myers ◽  
Kenneth S. Kendler
Keyword(s):  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Event ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Longitudinal Twin Study ◽  
Adult Twins

BackgroundThe source of variability in people's response to stressful life events is poorly understood.AimsWe examine the genetic and environmental underpinning of resilience (i.e. the difference between the twins' internalising symptoms and their predicted symptoms based on cumulative stressful life events).MethodStressful life event exposure and internalising symptoms were assessed at two time points in 7500 adult twins. Using the residual between actual and predicted internalising symptom total score, twin modelling was conducted for each wave separately and longitudinally.ResultsResilience was found to have a moderate genetic heritability at each wave (~31%). Qualitative gender effects were found. Incorporating error of measurement into the model increased the estimated heritability for the latent construct of resilience (~50%). When measurement error and occasion-specific effects were removed, environmental influences contributed roughly equally to level of resilience.ConclusionsBoth genes and environment influence level of psychiatric resilience, and are largely stable over time. Environmental influences can have an enduring effect on resilience.

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