Subjective well-being: genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Previous cross-sectional studies have found substantial genetic influences on individual variation in subjective well-being (SWB), and evidence for sex-specific genetic effects has been reported. However, the genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in SWB over time are largely unexplored.

METHOD:
Questionnaire data on SWB from a population-based sample of Norwegian twins born 1967 to 1979, initially surveyed in 1992 (T1) and re-surveyed in 1998 (T2), were analysed using structural equation modelling to explore the relative effects of genetic and environmental influences on phenotypic stability and change.

RESULTS:
The phenotypic cross-time correlations for SWB were 0.51 and 0.49 for males and females respectively. The best-fitting longitudinal model specified only additive genetic and individual environmental effects with qualitative and quantitative sex-specific genetic influences. For both males and females, the additive genetic factors influencing SWB were largely stable, although some time-specific genetic contributions were indicated. Cross-time correlations for genetic effects were 0.85 and 0.78 for males and females respectively. The individual environmental influences were primarily time-specific. Additive genetic effects explained approximately 80% of the phenotypic cross-time correlation. For females, the magnitude of the additive genetic effects decreased significantly from T1 to T2, whereas for males, the estimates generally remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS:
For both males and females, long-term stability of SWB was mainly attributable to stable additive genetic factors, whereas susceptibility to change was mostly related to individual environmental factors. However, both stable environmental contributions and emerging genetic influences were indicated.

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Author information

Author/s: Nes, R B (RB); Røysamb, E (E); Tambs, K (K); Harris, J R (JR); Reichborn-Kjennerud, T (T);

Affiliation: Division of Mental Health, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. Ragnhild.bang.nes(-atsign-)fhi.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Twin Study

Journal: Psychological medicine (Psychol Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 36 (issue 7) : pp 1033-42

Dates: Created 2006/06/05; Completed 2006/11/08; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16749947, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Models, Psychological
Norway
Phenotype
Questionnaires
Twins, Dizygotic - genetics
Twins, Monozygotic - genetics

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