scholarly journals Heritability of Cortisol Production and Metabolism Throughout Adolescence

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britt J van Keulen ◽  
Conor V Dolan ◽  
Ruth Andrew ◽  
Brian R Walker ◽  
Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Broad Sense ◽  
Broad Sense Heritability ◽  
Total Contribution ◽  
Cortisol Metabolism ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Abstract Context Inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism emerge with age and may be explained by genetic factors. Objective To estimate the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and metabolism throughout adolescence. Design Prospective follow-up study of twins. Setting Nationwide register. Participants 218 mono- and dizygotic twins (N = 109 pairs) born between 1995 amd 1996, recruited from the Netherlands Twin Register. Cortisol metabolites were determined in 213, 169, and 160 urine samples at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, respectively. Main outcome measures The total contribution of genetic factors (broad-sense heritability) and shared and unshared environmental influences to inter-individual differences in cortisol production and activities of 5α-reductase, 5β-reductase, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and cytochrome P450 3A4. Results For cortisol production rate at the ages of 9, 12, and 17, broad-sense heritability was estimated as 42%, 30%, and 0%, respectively, and the remainder of the variance was explained by unshared environmental factors. For cortisol metabolism indices, the following heritability was observed: for the A-ring reductases (5α-and 5β-reductases), broad-sense heritability increased with age (to >50%), while for the other indices (renal 11β-HSD2, global 11β-HSD, and CYP3A4), the contribution of genetic factors was highest (68%, 18%, and 67%, respectively) at age 12. Conclusions The contribution of genetic factors to inter-individual differences in cortisol production decreased between 12 and 17y, indicative of a predominant role of individual circumstances. For cortisol metabolism, distinct patterns of genetic and environmental influences were observed, with heritability that either increased with age or peaked at age 12y.

A Behavioral-Genetic Analysis of Health Anxiety: Implications for the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Hypochondriasis

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Taylor ◽  
Kerry L. Jang ◽  
Murray B. Stein ◽  
Gordon J. G. Asmundson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Data Set ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Model

The leading contemporary cognitive-behavioral model of excessive health anxiety (HA) emphasizes the importance of environmental factors, such as learning experiences. The model has little to say about the role of genetic factors and, by ignoring these factors, seems to imply that they are unimportant. In contrast, results from the University of British Columbia Twin Study, using a sample of 88 monozygotic and 65 dizygotic twin pairs, indicated that various facets of HA, such as excessive disease fear, unrealistic beliefs that one has a serious disease, and HA-related interference in functioning, are moderately heritable. The present study extended the analyses of this data set by investigating the extent to which the various facets of HA are due to genetic or environmental factors that are common to all facets versus specific to each facet. Results indicated that all facets of HA are influenced by a common set of genes—there was very little evidence of facet-specific genetic influences. There was considerably stronger evidence for facet-specific environmental influences, where each facet is strongly influenced by environmental experiences that are specific to that facet. However, there was also evidence that particular environmental influences—especially those that shape disease conviction—also influence some of the other HA facets (fear and interference). The importance of environmental factors is consistent with the cognitive-behavioral model of HA, although the model needs to be refined to account for the role of genetic factors. Possibilities for refining the model are discussed, along with promising research directions to better understand the role of genes and the environment in HA.

scholarly journals Importance of Maternal Persistence in Young Children's Persistence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Imafuku ◽  
Atsuko Saito ◽  
Kenchi Hosokawa ◽  
Kazuo Okanoya ◽  
Chihiro Hosoda
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Parenting Style ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Maternal Factors ◽  
Social Success ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Persistence of a distant goal is an important personality trait that determines academic and social success. Recent studies have shown that individual differences in persistence involve both genetic and environmental factors; however, these studies have not examined the role of maternal factors on a young children's persistence. The present study examined whether mothers' persistence is associated with persistence in children aged 3–6 years. In addition, the associations between mothers' persistence/parenting style and children's self-control/social development (prosocial behaviors and difficulties) were examined. Our results showed that maternal persistence is essential for the child's persistence. Children's self-control and social development were also associated with the mothers' persistence and parenting style. Our findings suggest that a young child's persistence may develop under the influence of a familiar adult (i.e., mother) and characterizes their social development, highlighting the importance of persistence in parenting.

Sources of Stability in Social and Economic Ideological Orientations: Cohort, Context, and Construct Effects

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 711-730
Author(s):  
Aleksander Ksiazkiewicz ◽  
Robert Klemmensen ◽  
Christopher T Dawes ◽  
Kaare Christensen ◽  
Matt McGue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
National Context ◽  
Social Ideology ◽  
Age Cohort ◽  
Economic Ideology ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
The Stability

Abstract Existing research shows that ideological orientations are stable after young adulthood. Extending research on the sources of ideological stability, we examine social and economic ideology over a 3- to 4-year period in two twin panels (one Danish and one American). We find evidence for the importance of genetic influences and individual life experiences on the stability of social ideology in both contexts; shared environmental factors play an important role in the younger, Danish sample only. For economic ideology, genetic factors contribute to stability in the American sample only. Our findings show that the role of genetic and environmental factors in the stability of ideological orientations varies by type of ideology, national context, and, possibly, age cohort.

A Behavioral-Genetic Study of Alexithymia and its Relationships with Trait Emotional Intelligence

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 539-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly M. Baughman ◽  
Sara Schwartz ◽  
Julie Aitken Schermer ◽  
Livia Veselka ◽  
K. V. Petrides ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Trait Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Behavioral Genetic ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire ◽  
Behavioral Genetic Study

The present study is the first to examine relationships between alexithymia and trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy) at the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental levels. The study was also conducted to resolve inconsistencies in previous twin studies that have provided estimates of the extent to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in alexithymia. Participants were 216 monozygotic and 45 dizygotic same-sex twin pairs who completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. In a pilot study, a sub-sample of 118 MZ and 27 DZ pairs also completed the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. Results demonstrated that a combination of genetic and non-shared environmental influences contribute to individual differences in alexithymia. As expected, alexithymia and trait EI were negatively correlated at the phenotypic level. Bivariate behavioral genetic analyses showed that that all but one of these correlations was primarily attributable to correlated genetic factors and secondarily to correlated non-shared environmental factors.

Concordance for Stuttering in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twin Pairs

1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline M. Howie
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Identical Twins ◽  
Dizygotic Twin ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Maximum Accuracy ◽  
Estimated Risk ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

The role of genetic factors in the etiology of stuttering was investigated in 30 pairs of same-sex twins, each pair containing at least one stutterer. Care was taken to ensure maximum accuracy in zygosity classification and objectivity in stuttering diagnosis. Zygosity classification was made independently of stuttering diagnosis. Pair-wise concordance for stuttering was significantly higher in identical twins (63%) than in fraternal same-sex twins (19%). The estimated risk of stuttering in the monozygotic (MZ) co-twin of a stutterer was .77, and .32 in the dizygotic (DZ) co-twin of a stutterer, The findings strongly suggest the operation of genetic factors in stuttering, However, the presence of as many as six pairs of identical twins who were discordant for stuttering underlines the importance of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of this disorder.

scholarly journals Genetic origin of the relationship between parental negativity and behavior problems from early childhood to adolescence: A longitudinal genetically sensitive study

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Alemany ◽  
Frühling V. Rijsdijk ◽  
Claire Margaret Alison Haworth ◽  
Lourdes Fañanás ◽  
Robert Plomin
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Behavior Problems ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Causal Pathways ◽  
Longitudinal Association ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractLittle is known about how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the association between parental negativity and behavior problems from early childhood to adolescence. The current study fitted a cross-lagged model in a sample consisting of 4,075 twin pairs to explore (a) the role of genetic and environmental factors in the relationship between parental negativity and behavior problems from age 4 to age 12, (b) whether parent-driven and child-driven processes independently explain the association, and (c) whether there are sex differences in this relationship. Both phenotypes showed substantial genetic influence at both ages. The concurrent overlap between them was mainly accounted for by genetic factors. Causal pathways representing stability of the phenotypes and parent-driven and child-driven effects significantly and independently account for the association. Significant but slight differences were found between males and females for parent-driven effects. These results were highly similar when general cognitive ability was added as a covariate. In summary, the longitudinal association between parental negativity and behavior problems seems to be bidirectional and mainly accounted for by genetic factors. Furthermore, child-driven effects were mainly genetically mediated, and parent-driven effects were a function of both genetic and shared-environmental factors.

Correlated genetic and non-shared environmental influences account for the co-morbidity between female sexual dysfunctions

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Witting ◽  
P. Santtila ◽  
F. Rijsdijk ◽  
M. Varjonen ◽  
P. Jern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Sexual Dysfunctions ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Correlated Factors ◽  
Best Fit

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown moderate heritability for female orgasm. So far, however, no study has addressed the pattern of genetic and environmental influences on diverse sexual dysfunctions in women, nor how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the associations between them.MethodThe sample was drawn from the Genetics of Sex and Aggression (GSA) sample and consisted of 6446 female twins (aged 18–43 years) and 1994 female siblings (aged 18–49 years). The participants responded to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), either by post or online.ResultsModel fitting analyses indicated that individual differences on all six subdomains of the FSFI (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) were primarily due to non-shared (individual-specific) environmental influences. Genetic influences were modest but significant, whereas shared environmental influences were not significant. A correlated factors model including additive and non-additive genetic and non-shared environmental effects proved to have the best fit and suggested that both correlated additive and non-additive genetic factors and unique environmental factors underlie the co-occurrence of the sexual function problems.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that female sexual dysfunctions are separate entities with some shared aetiology. They also indicate that there is a genetic susceptibility for sexual dysfunctions. The unique experiences of each individual are, however, the main factors determining if, and which, dysfunction develops.

scholarly journals Gene-environment interactions as the basis of health formation

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aksana N. Kucher
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Genetic Program ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Gene Environment ◽  
Polymorphic Variants ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Active Substances

The review discusses issues related to the importance of interaction between genetic and environmental factors for the implementation of the genetic program of individuals and determining the level of health. Data on the importance of some nutrients (vitamins, bio-elements) for formation of health, about a role of genetic factors in maintenance of a homeostasis of biologically active substances, about associations of the genes involved in a metabolism of nutrients with various pathologies, and examples of modification of effects of genetic polymorphic variants on risk of development of common diseases by various factors (bio-elements and other components of a diet, adverse factors of environment, drugs, etc.) are presented.

scholarly journals Heritability of Caries Scores, Trajectories, and Disease Subtypes

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Haworth ◽  
A. Esberg ◽  
P. Lif Holgerson ◽  
R. Kuja-Halkola ◽  
N.J. Timpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Caries Experience ◽  
Tooth Surfaces ◽  
Molar Teeth ◽  
Caries Progression ◽  
Disease Subtypes ◽  
Dental Records ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors

Previous studies report that dental caries is partially heritable, but there is uncertainty in the magnitude of genetic effects and little understanding of how genetic factors might influence caries progression or caries subtypes. This study aimed to estimate the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of different caries outcomes using a twin-based design. Analysis included up to 41,678 twins in the Swedish Twin Register aged 7 to 97 y, and dental data were obtained from preexisting dental records. The outcome measures were 1) summary indices of caries experience, 2) parameters representing trajectory in caries progression derived from longitudinal modeling, and 3) caries scores in groups of biologically similar tooth surfaces derived from hierarchical clustering of tooth surfaces (termed caries clusters). Additive genetic factors explained between 49.1% and 62.7% of variation in caries scores and between 50.0% and 60.5% of variation in caries trajectories. Seven caries clusters were identified, which had estimates of heritability lying between 41.9% and 54.3%. Shared environmental factors were important for only some of these clusters and explained 16% of variation in fissure caries in molar teeth but little variation in other clusters of caries presentation. The genetic factors influencing these clusters were only partially overlapping, suggesting that different biological processes are important in different groups of tooth surfaces and that innate liability to some patterns of caries presentation may partially explain why groups of tooth surfaces form clusters within the mouth. These results provide 1) improved quantification of genetic factors in the etiology of caries and 2) new data about the role of genetics in terms of longitudinal changes in caries status and specific patterns of disease presentation, and they may help lay the foundations for personalized interventions in the future.

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