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ter Kuile AR, Hübel C, Cheesman R, Coleman JR, Peel AJ, Levey DF, Stein MB, Gelernter J, Rayner C, Eley TC, Breen G. Genetic Decomposition of the Heritable Component of Reported Childhood Maltreatment. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:716-724. [PMID: 37881567 PMCID: PMC10593925 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Decades of research have shown that environmental exposures, including self-reports of trauma, are partly heritable. Heritable characteristics may influence exposure to and interpretations of environmental factors. Identifying heritable factors associated with self-reported trauma could improve our understanding of vulnerability to exposure and the interpretation of life events. Methods We used genome-wide association study summary statistics of childhood maltreatment, defined as reporting of abuse (emotional, sexual, and physical) and neglect (emotional and physical) (N = 185,414 participants). We calculated genetic correlations (rg) between reported childhood maltreatment and 576 traits to identify phenotypes that might explain the heritability of reported childhood maltreatment, retaining those with |rg| > 0.25. We specified multiple regression models using genomic structural equation modeling to detect residual genetic variance in childhood maltreatment after accounting for genetically correlated traits. Results In 2 separate models, the shared genetic component of 12 health and behavioral traits and 7 psychiatric disorders accounted for 59% and 56% of heritability due to common genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability [h2SNP]) of childhood maltreatment, respectively. Genetic influences on h2SNP of childhood maltreatment were generally accounted for by a shared genetic component across traits. The exceptions to this were general risk tolerance, subjective well-being, posttraumatic stress disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, identified as independent contributors to h2SNP of childhood maltreatment. These 4 traits alone were sufficient to explain 58% of h2SNP of childhood maltreatment. Conclusions We identified putative traits that reflect h2SNP of childhood maltreatment. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying these associations may improve trauma prevention and posttraumatic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R. ter Kuile
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Hübel
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rosa Cheesman
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jonathan R.I. Coleman
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia J. Peel
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel F. Levey
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Murray B. Stein
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry and School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Christopher Rayner
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thalia C. Eley
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerome Breen
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Shared genetic influences between depression and conduct disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2023; 322:31-38. [PMID: 36356897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The co-occurrence between major depression disorder (MDD) and conduct disorder (CD) is common across development and represents a significant risk factor for future psychiatric problems and long-term impairment. Large-scale quantitative genetic studies suggest that the MDD-CD co-occurrence may be partly explained by shared genetic vulnerability factors, in line with transdiagnostic models of psychopathology, but no systematic synthesis of the literature is currently available. METHODS We therefore conducted a systematic review of the available genetic literature on the co-occurrence between MDD and CD in children and adolescents. We identified 10 eligible studies, including 5 cross-sectional bivariate/multivariate twin studies, 3 longitudinal bivariate/multivariate twin studies, and 2 latent profile/trajectory twin studies. RESULTS Most of the reviewed studies found a strong contribution of shared genetic factors on the covariation between depression and conduct problems, in line with the prominent effect of a common genetic liability across development. LIMITATIONS The scientific literature on this psychiatric comorbidity is still limited, as it solely consists of twin studies from high income countries. CONCLUSION Considering the joint burden of MDD and CD on youth, families and society worldwide, future studies are needed to better investigate the shared risk processes of these frequently co-occurring conditions, in order to inform new treatments through personalized medicine.
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Alexander JD, Zhou Y, Freis SM, Friedman NP, Vrieze SI. Individual differences in adolescent and young adult daily mobility patterns and their relationships to big five personality traits: a behavioral genetic analysis. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2022; 100:104277. [PMID: 35991708 PMCID: PMC9384572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Youth behavior changes and their relationships to personality have generally been investigated using self-report studies, which are subject to reporting biases and confounding variables. Supplementing these with objective measures, like GPS location data, and twin-based research designs, which help control for confounding genetic and environmental influences, may allow for more rigorous, causally informative research on adolescent behavior patterns. To investigate this possibility, this study aimed to (1) investigate whether behavior changes during the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood are evident in changing mobility patterns, (2) estimate the influence of adolescent personality on mobility patterns, and (3) estimate genetic and environmental influences on mobility, personality, and the relationship between them. Twins aged Fourteen to twenty-two (N=709, 55% female) provided a baseline personality measure, the Big Five Inventory, and multiple years of smartphone GPS data from June 2016 - December 2019. Mobility, as measured by daily locations visited and distance travelled, was found via mixed effects models to increase during adolescence before declining slightly in emerging adulthood. Mobility was positively associated with Extraversion and Conscientiousness (r of 0.17 - 0.25, r of 0.10 - 0.16) and negatively with Openness (r of -0.11 - -0.13). ACE models found large genetic (A = 0.56 - 0.81) and small-moderate environmental (C of 0.12 - 0.28, E of 0.07 - 0.15) influences on mobility. A and E influences were highly shared across mobility measures (rg = 0.70, re= 0.58). Associations between mobility and personality were partially explained by mutual genetic influences (rg of -0.27 - 0.53). Results show that as autonomy increases during adolescence and emerging adulthood, we see corresponding increases in youth mobility. Furthermore, the heritability of mobility patterns and their relationship to personality demonstrate that mobility patterns are informative, psychologically meaningful behaviors worthy of continued interest in psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota
| | - Samantha M. Freis
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder
| | - Naomi P. Friedman
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder
| | - Scott I. Vrieze
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder
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Plomin R, Viding E. Commentary: Will genomics revolutionise research on gene-environment interplay? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:1214-1218. [PMID: 36005740 PMCID: PMC9804537 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of quantitative genetics and molecular genetics is transforming research in the behavioural sciences. The ability to measure inherited DNA differences directly has led to polygenic scores and to new methods to estimate heritability and genetic correlations. This issue provides examples of how these advances can be appllied to research on gene-environment interplay in developmental psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Plomin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Essi Viding
- Division of Psychology and Language SciencesUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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Palmos AB, Hübel C, Lim KX, Hunjan AK, Coleman JR, Breen G. Assessing the Evidence for Causal Associations Between Body Mass Index, C-Reactive Protein, Depression, and Reported Trauma Using Mendelian Randomization. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:110-118. [PMID: 36712567 PMCID: PMC9874165 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic experiences are described as the strongest predictors of major depressive disorder (MDD), with inflammation potentially mediating the association between trauma and symptom onset. However, several studies indicate that body mass index (BMI) exerts a large confounding effect on both inflammation and MDD. Methods First, we sought to replicate previously reported associations between these traits in a large subset of the UK Biobank, using regression models with C-reactive protein (CRP) and MDD and as the outcome variables in 113,481 and 30,137 individuals, respectively. Second, we ran bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses between these traits to establish a potential causal framework between BMI, MDD, reported childhood trauma, and inflammation. Results Our phenotypic analyses revealed no association between CRP and MDD but did suggest a strong effect of BMI and reported trauma on both CRP (BMI: β = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.43-0.43, p ≤ .001; childhood trauma: β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.00-0.03, p = .006) and MDD (BMI: odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.14-1.19, p ≤ .001; childhood trauma: OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.88-2.11, p ≤ .001). Our Mendelian randomization analyses confirmed a lack of causal relationship between CRP and MDD but showed evidence consistent with a strong causal influence of higher BMI on increased CRP (β = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.36-0.39, p ≤ .001) and a bidirectional influence between reported trauma and MDD (OR trauma-MDD = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.49-2.07, p ≤ .001; OR MDD-trauma = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.18-1.27, p ≤ .001). Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of controlling for both BMI and trauma when studying MDD in the context of inflammation. They also suggest that the experience of traumatic events can increase the risk for MDD and that MDD can increase the experience of traumatic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alish B. Palmos
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,UK National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom,Address correspondence to Alish B. Palmos, Ph.D.
| | - Christopher Hübel
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,UK National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom,National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kai Xiang Lim
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Avina K. Hunjan
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,UK National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R.I. Coleman
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gerome Breen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom,UK National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Ask H, Cheesman R, Jami ES, Levey DF, Purves KL, Weber H. Genetic contributions to anxiety disorders: where we are and where we are heading. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2231-2246. [PMID: 33557968 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720005486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide. They often onset early in life, with symptoms and consequences that can persist for decades. This makes anxiety disorders some of the most debilitating and costly disorders of our time. Although much is known about the synaptic and circuit mechanisms of fear and anxiety, research on the underlying genetics has lagged behind that of other psychiatric disorders. However, alongside the formation of the Psychiatric Genomic Consortium Anxiety workgroup, progress is rapidly advancing, offering opportunities for future research.Here we review current knowledge about the genetics of anxiety across the lifespan from genetically informative designs (i.e. twin studies and molecular genetics). We include studies of specific anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder) as well as those using dimensional measures of trait anxiety. We particularly address findings from large-scale genome-wide association studies and show how such discoveries may provide opportunities for translation into improved or new therapeutics for affected individuals. Finally, we describe how discoveries in anxiety genetics open the door to numerous new research possibilities, such as the investigation of specific gene-environment interactions and the disentangling of causal associations with related traits and disorders.We discuss how the field of anxiety genetics is expected to move forward. In addition to the obvious need for larger sample sizes in genome-wide studies, we highlight the need for studies among young people, focusing on specific underlying dimensional traits or components of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga Ask
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rosa Cheesman
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eshim S Jami
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel F Levey
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare Center, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kirstin L Purves
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Heike Weber
- Department of Psychology, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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McAdams TA, Rijsdijk FV, Zavos HMS, Pingault JB. Twins and Causal Inference: Leveraging Nature's Experiment. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:a039552. [PMID: 32900702 PMCID: PMC8168524 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a039552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we discuss how samples comprising monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs can be used for the purpose of strengthening causal inference by controlling for shared influences on exposure and outcome. We begin by briefly introducing how twin data can be used to inform the biometric decomposition of population variance into genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental influences. We then discuss how extensions to this model can be used to explore whether associations between exposure and outcome survive correction for shared etiology (common causes). We review several analytical approaches that can be applied to twin data for this purpose. These include multivariate structural equation models, cotwin control methods, direction of causation models (cross-sectional and longitudinal), and extended family designs used to assess intergenerational associations. We conclude by highlighting some of the limitations and considerations that researchers should be aware of when using twin data for the purposes of interrogating causal hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Promenta Research Centre, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Helena M S Zavos
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Baptiste Pingault
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Perlstein S, Waller R. Integrating the study of personality and psychopathology in the context of gene-environment correlations across development. J Pers 2020; 90:47-60. [PMID: 33251591 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A key principle of individual differences research is that biological and environmental factors jointly influence personality and psychopathology. Genes and environments interact to influence the emergence and stability of both normal and abnormal behavior (i.e., genetic predisposition, X, is exacerbated or buffered under environmental conditions, Y, or vice versa), including by shaping the neural circuits underpinning behavior. The interplay of genes and environments is also reflected in various ways in which they are correlated (i.e., rGE). That is, the same genetic factors that give rise to personality or psychopathology also shape that person's environment. METHODS In this review, we outline passive, evocative, and active rGE processes and review the findings of studies that have addressed rGE in relation to understanding individual differences in personality and psychopathology across development. RESULTS Throughout, we evaluate the question of whether it is possible, not only to differentiate the person from their problems, but also to differentiate the person from their problems and their environment. CONCLUSIONS We provide recommendations for future research to model rGE and better inform our ability to study personality and psychopathology, while separating the influence of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Perlstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca Waller
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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9
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There are More than Two Sides to Antisocial Behavior: The Inextricable Link between Hemispheric Specialization and Environment. Symmetry (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/sym12101671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human functions and traits are linked to cerebral networks serving different emotional and cognitive control systems, some of which rely on hemispheric specialization and integration to promote adaptive goal-directed behavior. Among the neural systems discussed in this context are those underlying pro- and antisocial behaviors. The diverse functions and traits governing our social behavior have been associated with lateralized neural activity. However, as with other complex behaviors, specific hemispheric roles are difficult to elucidate. This is due largely to environmental and contextual influences, which interact with neural substrates in the development and expression of pro and antisocial functions. This paper will discuss the reciprocal ties between environmental factors and hemispheric functioning in the context of social behavior. Rather than an exhaustive review, the paper will attempt to familiarize readers with the prominent literature and primary questions to encourage further research and in-depth discussion in this field.
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Creating an Internal Environment of Cognitive and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being through an External Movement-Based Environment: An Overview of Quadrato Motor Training. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16122160. [PMID: 31216778 PMCID: PMC6616507 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this overview, we discuss the internal and external environmental factors associated with cognitive and psycho-emotional well-being in the context of physical activity and Mindful Movement. Our key argument is that improved cognitive and emotional functions associated with mental well-being can be achieved by an external, Mindful Movement-based environment training called Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT is a structured sensorimotor training program aimed at improving coordination, attention, and emotional well-being through behavioral, electrophysiological, neuroanatomical, and molecular changes. In accordance with this argument, we first describe the general neurobiological mechanisms underpinning emotional states and emotion regulation. Next, we review the relationships between QMT, positive emotional state, and increased emotion regulation, and discuss the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these relationships. We consider the relationships between motion, emotion, and cognition, and highlight the need for integrated training paradigms involving these three trajectories. Such training paradigms provide cognitively engaging exercises to improve emotion regulation, which in turn affects adaptive behaviors. Finally, we address the broader implications of improving cognitive and emotional functioning through Mindful Movement training for environmental research and public health.
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Schneider MN, Zavos HMS, McAdams TA, Kovas Y, Sadeghi S, Gregory AM. Mindfulness and associations with symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and depression in early adulthood: A twin and sibling study. Behav Res Ther 2019; 118:18-29. [PMID: 30947121 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated associations between mindfulness and symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety. Mindfulness was disaggregated into five subscales: 'nonreactivity to inner experience', 'observing', 'acting with awareness', 'describing' and 'nonjudging of inner experience'. Twin models were used to examine genetic and environmental influences on mindfulness, symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety and on their associations. Data came from a longitudinal twin/sibling study (G1219) comprising 862 individuals (age range 22-32 years, 66% females). Less mindfulness was associated with greater symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety (r = .22-.48). Of the mindfulness subscales, 'nonjudging of inner experience' was most strongly associated with the other traits. Overall mindfulness was largely influenced by non-shared environmental factors (E = .72) although familial influences played a role for overall mindfulness, as well as for the 'acting with awareness' and 'describing' subscales. The genetic correlations between overall mindfulness and symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety ranged from .32 to .75 (but were non-significant), while the shared environmental correlations ranged from -.78 to .79 (also non-significant). The non-shared environmental influences between these three variables were moderately, significantly correlated (rE = .21-.55).
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie N Schneider
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK.
| | - Helena M S Zavos
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiarty Centre, Institute of Psychiarty, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiarty Centre, Institute of Psychiarty, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Yulia Kovas
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
| | - Samaneh Sadeghi
- Psychology Department, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TP, UK.
| | - Alice M Gregory
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK.
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Rosenström T, Czajkowski NO, Ystrom E, Krueger RF, Aggen SH, Gillespie NA, Eilertsen E, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Torvik FA. Genetically Informative Mediation Modeling Applied to Stressors and Personality-Disorder Traits in Etiology of Alcohol Use Disorder. Behav Genet 2018; 49:11-23. [PMID: 30536213 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9941-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A statistical mediation model was developed within a twin design to investigate the etiology of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Unlike conventional statistical mediation models, this biometric mediation model can detect unobserved confounding. Using a sample of 1410 pairs of Norwegian twins, we investigated specific hypotheses that DSM-IV personality-disorder (PD) traits mediate effects of childhood stressful life events (SLEs) on AUD, and that adulthood SLEs mediate effects of PDs on AUD. Models including borderline PD traits indicated unobserved confounding in phenotypic path coefficients, whereas models including antisocial and impulsive traits did not. More than half of the observed effects of childhood SLEs on adulthood AUD were mediated by adulthood antisocial and impulsive traits. Effects of PD traits on AUD 5‒10 years later were direct rather than mediated by adulthood SLEs. The results and the general approach contribute to triangulation of developmental origins for complex behavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Rosenström
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Nikolai Olavi Czajkowski
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- PharmacoEpidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Robert F Krueger
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Steven H Aggen
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Nathan A Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Espen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fartein Ask Torvik
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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McAdams TA, Hannigan LJ, Eilertsen EM, Gjerde LC, Ystrom E, Rijsdijk FV. Revisiting the Children-of-Twins Design: Improving Existing Models for the Exploration of Intergenerational Associations. Behav Genet 2018; 48:397-412. [PMID: 29961153 PMCID: PMC6097723 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9912-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Datasets comprising twins and their children can be a useful tool for understanding the nature of intergenerational associations between parent and offspring phenotypes. In the present article we explore structural equation models previously used to analyse Children-of-Twins data, highlighting some limitations and considerations. We then present new variants of these models, showing that extending the models to include multiple offspring per parent addresses several of the limitations discussed. Accompanying the updated models, we provide power calculations and demonstrate with application to simulated data. We then apply to intergenerational analyses of height and weight, using a sub-study of the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa); the Intergenerational Transmission of Risk (IToR) project, wherein all kinships in the MoBa data have been identified (a children-of-twins-and-siblings study). Finally, we consider how to interpret the findings of these models and discuss future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A McAdams
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK.
| | - Laurie J Hannigan
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK
| | - Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fruhling V Rijsdijk
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, De Crespigny Park, Box PO80, SE5 8AF, London, UK
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14
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Stevens M. Preventing at-risk children from developing antisocial and criminal behaviour: a longitudinal study examining the role of parenting, community and societal factors in middle childhood. BMC Psychol 2018; 6:40. [PMID: 30097044 PMCID: PMC6086042 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-018-0254-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many childhood risk factors are known to be associated with children's future antisocial and criminal behaviour, including children's conduct disorders and family difficulties such as parental substance abuse. Some families are involved with many different services but little is known about what middle childhood factors moderate the risk of poor outcomes. This paper reports the quantitative component of a mixed methods study investigating what factors can be addressed to help families improve children's outcomes in the longer term. The paper examines six hypotheses, which emerged from a qualitative longitudinal study of the service experiences of eleven vulnerable families followed over five years. The hypotheses concern factors which could be targeted by interventions, services and policy to help reduce children's behaviour problems in the longer term. METHODS The hypotheses are investigated using a sample of over one thousand children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Multiple logistic regression examines associations between potentially-moderating factors (at ages 5-10) and antisocial and criminal behaviour (at ages 16-21) for children with behaviour problems at baseline. RESULTS ALSPAC analyses support several hypotheses, suggesting that the likelihood of future antisocial and criminal behaviour is reduced in the presence of the following factors: reduction in maternal hostility towards the child (between ages 4 and 8), reduction in maternal depression (between the postnatal period and when children are age 10), mothers' positive view of their neighbourhood (age 5) and lack of difficulty paying the rent (age 7). The evidence was less clear regarding the role of social support (age 6) and mothers' employment choices (age 7). CONCLUSION The findings suggest, in conjunction with findings from the separate qualitative analysis, that improved environments around the child and family during middle childhood could have long-term benefits in reducing antisocial and criminal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Stevens
- Personal Social Services Research Unit, London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK.
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15
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Salvatore JE, Dick DM. Genetic influences on conduct disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 91:91-101. [PMID: 27350097 PMCID: PMC5183514 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Conduct disorder (CD) is a moderately heritable psychiatric disorder of childhood and adolescence characterized by aggression toward people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, and serious violation of rules. Genome-wide scans using linkage and association methods have identified a number of suggestive genomic regions that are pending replication. A small number of candidate genes (e.g., GABRA2, MAOA, SLC6A4, AVPR1A) are associated with CD related phenotypes across independent studies; however, failures to replicate also exist. Studies of gene-environment interplay show that CD genetic predispositions also contribute to selection into higher-risk environments, and that environmental factors can alter the importance of CD genetic factors and differentially methylate CD candidate genes. The field's understanding of CD etiology will benefit from larger, adequately powered studies in gene identification efforts; the incorporation of polygenic approaches in gene-environment interplay studies; attention to the mechanisms of risk from genes to brain to behavior; and the use of genetically informative data to test quasi-causal hypotheses about purported risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Salvatore
- Department of Psychology and the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU PO Box 842018, 806 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284-2018, USA.
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Psychology, African American Studies, and Human & Molecular Genetics, VCU PO Box 842509, Richmond, VA 23284-2509, USA
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16
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Ayoub M, Briley DA, Grotzinger A, Patterson MW, Engelhardt LE, Tackett JL, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM. Genetic and Environmental Associations Between Child Personality and Parenting. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2018; 10:711-721. [PMID: 31807233 DOI: 10.1177/1948550618784890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Parenting is often conceptualized in terms of its effects on offspring. However, children may also play an active role in influencing the parenting they receive. Simple correlations between parenting and child outcomes may be due to parent-to-child causation, child-to-parent causation, or some combination of the two. We use a multi-rater, genetically informative, large sample (n = 1411 twin sets) to gain traction on this issue as it relates to parental warmth and stress in the context of child Big Five personality. Considerable variance in parental warmth (27%) and stress (45%) was attributable to child genetic influences on parenting. Incorporating child Big Five personality into the model explained roughly half of this variance. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that parents mold their parenting in response to their child's personality. Residual heritability of parenting is likely due to child characteristics beyond the Big Five.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Ayoub
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Daniel A Briley
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | | | | | | | | | - K Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.,Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Elliot M Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.,Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
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17
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March-Llanes J, Marqués-Feixa L, Mezquita L, Fañanás L, Moya-Higueras J. Stressful life events during adolescence and risk for externalizing and internalizing psychopathology: a meta-analysis. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017; 26:1409-1422. [PMID: 28502034 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0996-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of the present research was to analyze the relations between stressful life events and the externalizing and internalizing spectra of psychopathology using meta-analytical procedures. After removing the duplicates, a total of 373 papers were found in a literature search using several bibliographic databases, such as the PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Twenty-seven studies were selected for the meta-analytical analysis after applying different inclusion and exclusion criteria in different phases. The statistical procedure was performed using a random/mixed-effects model based on the correlations found in the studies. Significant positive correlations were found in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. A transactional effect was then found in the present study. Stressful life events could be a cause, but also a consequence, of psychopathological spectra. The level of controllability of the life events did not affect the results. Special attention should be given to the usage of stressful life events in gene-environment interaction and correlation studies, and also for clinical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume March-Llanes
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, University of Lleida, Avda. de l'Estudi General, 4, 25221, Lleida, Spain
| | - Laia Marqués-Feixa
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Mezquita
- Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Avda. de Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n, 12701, Castelló De La Plana, Spain
| | - Lourdes Fañanás
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Biomedicine Institute of the University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto De Salud Carlos III, Centro De Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Moya-Higueras
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, University of Lleida, Avda. de l'Estudi General, 4, 25221, Lleida, Spain. .,Instituto De Salud Carlos III, Centro De Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
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18
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Wang RAH, Davis OSP, Wootton RE, Mottershaw A, Haworth CMA. Social support and mental health in late adolescence are correlated for genetic, as well as environmental, reasons. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13088. [PMID: 29026181 PMCID: PMC5638798 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Late adolescence is a crucial, but underexplored, developmental stage with respect to the aetiology of social support. These individuals are experiencing many major life changes and social support can help them adjust to the associated environmental stressors of this time. Using 1,215 18-year-old twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study, we collected measures of two indices of support: support quality and support quantity, as well as wellbeing and depression. Both support indices were moderately heritable (55% and 49%, respectively), an interesting finding given the many environmental changes that late adolescents are encountering that could be environmentally altering their social network structures. Finding a genetic influence on support suggests the presence of gene-environment correlation whereby individuals create and perceive their supportive environment based upon their genetic predispositions. Shared genetic influences mediated the moderate phenotypic correlation (mean r = 0.46) between support and mental health. Genetic correlations were higher between support quality and mental health (mean rA = 0.75), than between support quantity and mental health (mean rA = 0.54), reflecting the phenotypic pattern. This suggests that interventions should focus more on making late adolescents aware of the support quality around them than encouraging them to increase their social network size.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Adele H Wang
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, United Kingdom.
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, United Kingdom.
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom.
| | - Oliver S P Davis
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
| | - Robyn E Wootton
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Mottershaw
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
| | - Claire M A Haworth
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, United Kingdom
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, United Kingdom
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2PS, United Kingdom
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19
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Wootton RE, Davis OSP, Mottershaw AL, Wang RAH, Haworth CMA. Genetic and environmental correlations between subjective wellbeing and experience of life events in adolescence. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017; 26:1119-1127. [PMID: 28508957 PMCID: PMC5591350 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0997-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Some life events appear heritable due to the genetic influence on related behaviours. Shared genetic influence between negative behaviours and negative life events has previously been established. This study investigated whether subjective wellbeing and positive life events were genetically associated. Participants in the Twins Early Development Study (aged 16.32 ± .68 years) completed subjective wellbeing and life events assessments via two separate studies (overlapping N for wellbeing and life events measures ranged from 3527 to 9350). We conducted bivariate twin models between both positive and negative life events with subjective wellbeing and related positive psychological traits including subjective happiness, life satisfaction, optimism, hopefulness and gratitude measured at 16 years. Results suggested that the heritability of life events can partially be explained by shared genetic influences with the wellbeing indicators. Wellbeing traits were positively genetically correlated with positive life events and negatively correlated with negative life events (except curiosity where there was no correlation). Those positive traits that drive behaviour (grit and ambition) showed the highest genetic correlation with life events, whereas the reflective trait gratitude was less correlated. This suggests that gene-environment correlations might explain the observed genetic association between life events and wellbeing. Inheriting propensity for positive traits might cause you to seek environments that lead to positive life events and avoid environments which make negative life events more likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn E Wootton
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK.
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Oliver S P Davis
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Abigail L Mottershaw
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - R Adele H Wang
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Claire M A Haworth
- School of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
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20
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Lahey BB, Krueger RF, Rathouz PJ, Waldman ID, Zald DH. A hierarchical causal taxonomy of psychopathology across the life span. Psychol Bull 2017; 143:142-186. [PMID: 28004947 PMCID: PMC5269437 DOI: 10.1037/bul0000069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We propose a taxonomy of psychopathology based on patterns of shared causal influences identified in a review of multivariate behavior genetic studies that distinguish genetic and environmental influences that are either common to multiple dimensions of psychopathology or unique to each dimension. At the phenotypic level, first-order dimensions are defined by correlations among symptoms; correlations among first-order dimensions similarly define higher-order domains (e.g., internalizing or externalizing psychopathology). We hypothesize that the robust phenotypic correlations among first-order dimensions reflect a hierarchy of increasingly specific etiologic influences. Some nonspecific etiologic factors increase risk for all first-order dimensions of psychopathology to varying degrees through a general factor of psychopathology. Other nonspecific etiologic factors increase risk only for all first-order dimensions within a more specific higher-order domain. Furthermore, each first-order dimension has its own unique causal influences. Genetic and environmental influences common to family members tend to be nonspecific, whereas environmental influences unique to each individual are more dimension-specific. We posit that these causal influences on psychopathology are moderated by sex and developmental processes. This causal taxonomy also provides a novel framework for understanding the heterogeneity of each first-order dimension: Different persons exhibiting similar symptoms may be influenced by different combinations of etiologic influences from each of the 3 levels of the etiologic hierarchy. Furthermore, we relate the proposed causal taxonomy to transdimensional psychobiological processes, which also impact the heterogeneity of each psychopathology dimension. This causal taxonomy implies the need for changes in strategies for studying the etiology, psychobiology, prevention, and treatment of psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul J Rathouz
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
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21
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McAdams TA, Rijsdijk FV, Narusyte J, Ganiban JM, Reiss D, Spotts E, Neiderhiser JM, Lichtenstein P, Eley TC. Associations between the parent-child relationship and adolescent self-worth: a genetically informed study of twin parents and their adolescent children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017; 58:46-54. [PMID: 27426633 PMCID: PMC5215430 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low self-worth during adolescence predicts a range of emotional and behavioural problems. As such, identifying potential sources of influence on self-worth is important. Aspects of the parent-child relationship are often associated with adolescent self-worth but to date it is unclear whether such associations may be attributable to familial confounding (e.g. genetic relatedness). We set out to clarify the nature of relationships between parental expressed affection and adolescent self-worth, and parent-child closeness and adolescent self-worth. METHODS We used data from the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden, a children-of-twins sample comprising 909 adult twin pairs with adolescent children. Using these data we were able to apply structural equation models with which we could examine whether associations remained after accounting for genetic transmission. RESULTS Results demonstrated that parent-child closeness and parental-expressed affection were both phenotypically associated with adolescent self-worth. Associations could not be attributed to genetic relatedness between parent and child. CONCLUSIONS Parent-child closeness and parental affection are associated with adolescent self-worth above and beyond effects attributable to genetic relatedness. Data were cross-sectional, so the direction of effects cannot be confirmed but findings support the notion that positive parent-child relationships increase adolescent self-worth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A. McAdams
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Fruhling V. Rijsdijk
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jurgita Narusyte
- Division of Insurance MedicineDepartment of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Jody M. Ganiban
- Department of PsychologyGeorge Washington UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | - Erica Spotts
- Office of Behavioral and Social Science ResearchNIHBethesdaMDUSA
| | | | - Paul Lichtenstein
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinksa InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Thalia C. Eley
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & NeuroscienceMRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
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22
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Hannigan LJ, McAdams TA, Plomin R, Eley TC. Etiological Influences on Perceptions of Parenting: A Longitudinal, Multi-Informant Twin Study. J Youth Adolesc 2016; 45:2387-2405. [PMID: 26815663 PMCID: PMC5101284 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-016-0419-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Children and their parents often differ in their perception of the relationship they share. As this relationship changes developmentally, the nature of these differences may also change. Longitudinal genetic designs can be used to investigate the developmental etiologies of shared and distinct perceptions. In this study, we used longitudinal psychometric models to analyze child and parent reports of negative parenting for 6417 twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study at ages 9, 12 and 14 years. Within-time cross-reporter correlations, indicating the degree to which children and parents perceived negative parenting behaviors similarly at each age, were moderate (r = .44 - .46). Longitudinal genetic analyses revealed these shared perceptions to be relatively stable during the transition into adolescence, with this stability driven by a combination of children's genetic factors and family-wide environmental factors. In contrast, child- and parent-specific perceptions of parenting were predominantly age-specific, a developmental pattern underpinned by child genetic factors and a combination of family-wide and unique environmental influences. These results and their implications are discussed in the context of interplay between reciprocal interactions, subjective insight and developmental behavioral change in the parent-child relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie J. Hannigan
- Medical Research Council, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Tom A. McAdams
- Medical Research Council, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Robert Plomin
- Medical Research Council, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Thalia C. Eley
- Medical Research Council, Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
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23
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Epigenome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis of Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Diurnal Preference. Twin Res Hum Genet 2016; 18:662-9. [PMID: 26678051 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2015.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Diurnal preference is an individual's preference for daily activities and sleep timing and is strongly correlated with the underlying circadian clock and the sleep-wake cycle validating its use as an indirect circadian measure in humans. Recent research has implicated DNA methylation as a mechanism involved in the regulation of the circadian clock system in humans and other mammals. In order to evaluate the extent of epigenetic differences associated with diurnal preference, we examined genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation in DNA from monozygotic (MZ) twin-pairs discordant for diurnal preference. MZ twins were selected from a longitudinal twin study designed to investigate the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the development of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Fifteen pairs of MZ twins were identified in which one member scored considerably higher on the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) than the other. Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were assessed in twins' buccal cell DNA using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips. Quality control and data pre-processing was undertaken using the wateRmelon package. Differentially methylated probes (DMPs) were identified using an analysis strategy taking into account both the significance and the magnitude of DNA methylation differences. Our data indicate that DNA methylation differences are detectable in MZ twins discordant for diurnal preference. Moreover, downstream gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis on the top-ranked diurnal preference associated DMPs revealed significant enrichment of pathways that have been previously associated with circadian rhythm regulation, including cell adhesion processes and calcium ion binding.
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24
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Plomin R, DeFries JC, Knopik VS, Neiderhiser JM. Top 10 Replicated Findings From Behavioral Genetics. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2016; 11:3-23. [PMID: 26817721 PMCID: PMC4739500 DOI: 10.1177/1745691615617439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In the context of current concerns about replication in psychological science, we describe 10 findings from behavioral genetic research that have replicated robustly. These are "big" findings, both in terms of effect size and potential impact on psychological science, such as linearly increasing heritability of intelligence from infancy (20%) through adulthood (60%). Four of our top 10 findings involve the environment, discoveries that could have been found only with genetically sensitive research designs. We also consider reasons specific to behavioral genetics that might explain why these findings replicate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Plomin
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London
| | - John C DeFries
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado
| | - Valerie S Knopik
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, and Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University
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25
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Wertz J, Zavos H, Matthews T, Harvey K, Hunt A, Pariante CM, Arseneault L. Why some children with externalising problems develop internalising symptoms: testing two pathways in a genetically sensitive cohort study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015; 56:738-746. [PMID: 25292456 PMCID: PMC6217970 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with externalising problems are at risk of developing internalising problems as they grow older. The pathways underlying this developmental association remain to be elucidated. We tested two processes that could explain why some children with externalising problems develop internalising symptoms in preadolescence: a mediation model whereby the association between early externalising and later new internalising symptoms is explained by negative experiences; and a genetic model, whereby genes influence both problems. METHODS We used data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Study, a 1994-1995 birth cohort of 2,232 twins born in England and Wales. We assessed externalising and internalising problems using combined mothers' and teachers' ratings at age 5 and 12. We measured bullying victimisation, maternal dissatisfaction and academic difficulties between age 7 and 10 and used linear regression analyses to test the effects of these negative experiences on the association between early externalising and later internalising problems. We employed a Cholesky decomposition to examine the genetic influences on the association. RESULTS Children with externalising problems at age 5 showed increased rates of new internalising problems at age 12 (r = .24, p < .001). Negative experiences accounted for some of the association between early externalising and later internalising problems. Behavioural-genetic analyses indicated that genes influencing early externalising problems also affected later internalising problems. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the role of genetic influences in explaining why some children with externalising problems develop internalising symptoms in preadolescence. Negative experiences also contribute to the association, possibly through gene-environment interplay. Mental health professionals should monitor the development of internalising symptoms in young children with externalising problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Wertz
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Helena Zavos
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Timothy Matthews
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Kirsten Harvey
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Alice Hunt
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Carmine M. Pariante
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
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26
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Roubertoux PL, Carlier M, Tordjman S. Deficit in Social Relationships and Reduced Field of Interest in Mice. ORGANISM MODELS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2250-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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27
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Briley DA, Harden KP, Tucker-Drob EM. Child characteristics and parental educational expectations: evidence for transmission with transaction. Dev Psychol 2014; 50:2614-32. [PMID: 25285965 DOI: 10.1037/a0038094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Parents' expectations for their children's ultimate educational attainment have been hypothesized to play an instrumental role in socializing academically relevant child behaviors, beliefs, and abilities. In addition to social transmission of educationally relevant values from parents to children, parental expectations and child characteristics may transact bidirectionally. We explore this hypothesis using both longitudinal and genetically informative twin data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth and Kindergarten cohorts. Our behavior genetic results indicate that parental expectations partly reflect child genetic variation, even as early as 4 years of age. Two classes of child characteristics were hypothesized to contribute to these child-to-parent effects: behavioral tendencies (approaches toward learning and problem behaviors) and achievement (math and reading). Using behavior genetic models, we find within-twin-pair associations between these child characteristics and parental expectations. Using longitudinal cross-lagged models, we find that initial variation in child characteristics predicts future educational expectations above and beyond previous educational expectations. These results are consistent with transactional frameworks in which parent-to-child and child-to-parent effects co-occur.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Paige Harden
- Department of Psychology and Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Elliot M Tucker-Drob
- Department of Psychology and Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
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28
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Cecil CAM, Lysenko LJ, Jaffee SR, Pingault JB, Smith RG, Relton CL, Woodward G, McArdle W, Mill J, Barker ED. Environmental risk, Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR) methylation and youth callous-unemotional traits: a 13-year longitudinal study. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:1071-7. [PMID: 25199917 PMCID: PMC4231290 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Youth with high callous-unemotional traits (CU) are at risk for early-onset and persistent conduct problems. Research suggests that there may be different developmental pathways to CU (genetic/constitutional vs environmental), and that the absence or presence of co-occurring internalizing problems is a key marker. However, it is unclear whether such a distinction is valid. Intermediate phenotypes such as DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification regulating gene expression, may help to clarify etiological pathways. This is the first study to examine prospective inter-relationships between environmental risk (prenatal/postnatal) and DNA methylation (birth, age 7 and 9) in the prediction of CU (age 13), for youth low vs high in internalizing problems. We focused on DNA methylation in the vicinity of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene as it has been previously implicated in CU. Participants were 84 youth with early-onset and persistent conduct problems drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. For youth with low internalizing problems (46%), we found that (i) OXTR methylation at birth associated with higher CU (age 13) as well as decreased experience of victimization during childhood (evocative epigenetic-environment correlation; birth-age 7), (ii) higher prenatal parental risks (maternal psychopathology, criminal behaviors, substance use) associated with higher OXTR methylation at birth and (iii) OXTR methylation levels were more stable across time (birth-age 9). In contrast, for youth with high internalizing problems, CU were associated with prenatal risks of an interpersonal nature (that is, intimate partner violence, family conflict) but not OXTR methylation. Findings support the existence of distinct developmental pathways to CU.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sara R. Jaffee
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean-Baptiste Pingault
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, UK
| | | | - Caroline L. Relton
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Geoffrey Woodward
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Wendy McArdle
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK
- Exeter Medical School, Exeter University, UK
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29
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Briley DA, Tucker-Drob EM. Genetic and environmental continuity in personality development: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 2014; 140:1303-31. [PMID: 24956122 PMCID: PMC4152379 DOI: 10.1037/a0037091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The longitudinal stability of personality is low in childhood but increases substantially into adulthood. Theoretical explanations for this trend differ in the emphasis placed on intrinsic maturation and socializing influences. To what extent does the increasing stability of personality result from the continuity and crystallization of genetically influenced individual differences, and to what extent does the increasing stability of life experiences explain increases in personality trait stability? Behavioral genetic studies, which decompose longitudinal stability into sources associated with genetic and environmental variation, can help to address this question. We aggregated effect sizes from 24 longitudinal behavioral genetic studies containing information on a total of 21,057 sibling pairs from 6 types that varied in terms of genetic relatedness and ranged in age from infancy to old age. A combination of linear and nonlinear meta-analytic regression models were used to evaluate age trends in levels of heritability and environmentality, stabilities of genetic and environmental effects, and the contributions of genetic and environmental effects to overall phenotypic stability. Both the genetic and environmental influences on personality increase in stability with age. The contribution of genetic effects to phenotypic stability is moderate in magnitude and relatively constant with age, in part because of small-to-moderate decreases in the heritability of personality over child development that offset increases in genetic stability. In contrast, the contribution of environmental effects to phenotypic stability increases from near zero in early childhood to moderate in adulthood. The life-span trend of increasing phenotypic stability, therefore, predominantly results from environmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Briley
- Department of Psychology and Population Research Center, University of Texas
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30
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Abstract
Rather than investigating the extent to which training can improve performance under experimental conditions ('what could be'), we ask about the origins of expertise as it exists in the world ('what is'). We used the twin method to investigate the genetic and environmental origins of exceptional performance in reading, a skill that is a major focus of educational training in the early school years. Selecting reading experts as the top 5% from a sample of 10,000 12-year-olds twins assessed on a battery of reading tests, three findings stand out. First, we found that genetic factors account for more than half of the difference in performance between expert and normal readers. Second, our results suggest that reading expertise is the quantitative extreme of the same genetic and environmental factors that affect reading performance for normal readers. Third, growing up in the same family and attending the same schools account for less than a fifth of the difference between expert and normal readers. We discuss implications and interpretations ('what is inherited is DNA sequence variation'; 'the abnormal is normal'). Finally, although there is no necessary relationship between 'what is' and 'what could be', the most far-reaching issues about the acquisition of expertise lie at the interface between them ('the nature of nurture: from a passive model of imposed environments to an active model of shaped experience').
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Plomin
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas G Shakeshaft
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew McMillan
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Maciej Trzaskowski
- King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
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