Abstract
There has been recent interest in the research literature concerning the potential for genetic influences on fertility-related behaviors. Fisher’s (1930) well-known theorem suggesting that the heritability of fertility-linked behaviors must eventually disappear (e.g., Plomin, DeFries, & McClearn, 1990) runs counter to a number of empirical findings concerning sexuality and fertility behaviors. Miller has recently developed a framework (Miller et al, 1999b) that casts fertility outcomes into the bigger context of fertility desires and expectations. We draw on this framework to investigate the role of broad genetic and environmental influences on a number of fertility attitudes, and link those to fertility outcomes. Our data come from recently defined kinship structure from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, and thus provide a large national sample in which to investigate these issues. Our findings suggest that both fertility expectations and desires have a heritable component, and virtually no shared environmental component. However, expectations have a systematically higher level of genetic influence than outcomes. These findings are both readily interpretable within previous frameworks, and also can be used to general future research agendas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Burt, A. (1995). The evolution of fitness. Evolution, 49, 1–8.
DeFries, J. C. & Fulker, D. W. (1985). Multiple regression analysis of twin data. Behavior Genetics, 15, 467–473.
Dunne M. P., Martin N. G., Statham D. J., Slutske W. S., Dinwiddie S. H., Bucholz K. K., Madden, P. A., & Heath, A. C. (1997). Genetic and environmental contributions to variance in age at first sexual intercourse. Psychological Science, 8, 1–6.
Edwards, A. W. F. (1994). The fundamental theorem of natural selectioa Biological Review, 69, 443–474.
Ewens, W. J. (1989). An interpretation and proof of the fundamental theorem of natural selection. Theoretical Population Biology, 36, 167–180.
Fisher, R. A. (1930). The genetical theory of natural selection. New York: Dover Publishers.
Houle, D. (1992). Comparing evolvability and variability of quantitative traits. An interpretation and proof of the fundamental theorem of natural selection. Genetics, 130, 195–204.
Lessard, S. (1997). Fisher’s fundamental theory of natural selection revisited. An interpretation and proof of the fundamental theorem of natural selection. Theoretical Population Biology, 52, 119–136.
Martin N. G., Eaves, L. J., & Eysenck, H. J. (1977). Genetical, environmental, and personality factors influencing the age of first sexual intercourse in twins. An interpretation and proof of the fundamental theorem of natural selection. Journal of Biosocial Science, 9, 91–97.
McGue M. & Lykken, D. T. (1992). Genetic influences on risk of divorce. Psychological Science, 3, 368–373.
Mealey L. & Segal, N. L. (1993). Heritable and environmental variables affect reproduction-related behaviors, but not ultimate reproductive success. Personality and Individual Differences, 14, 783–794.
Miller W. B., Comings D. E., MacMurray J., Chiu, C, Wu, H., & Pasta, D. J. (1999a). Dopamine receptors are associated with age at first sexual intercourse. Journal of Biosocial Sciences, 57, 43–54.
Miller W. B., Pasta D., MacMurray J., Chiu, Wu, Comings, D. (1999b). Genetic influences on childbearing motivation and parental satisfaction: A theoretical framework and some empirical evidence. In L. Severy & W. Miller (Eds) Advances in Population: Psychosocial Perspectives, vol. it3. Jessica Kingsley.
Perusse D., Neale, M. C, Heath, A. C, & Eaves, L. J. (1994). Human parental behavior: Evidence for genetic influence and potential implication for gene-culture transmission. Behavior Genetics, 24, 327–335.
Plomin, R., DeFries, J. C, & McClearn, G. E. (1990,). Behavioral genetics: A primer. New York: Freeman
Rodgers, J. L. (1996) NLSY Linking Algorithm. Unpublished document.
Rodgers, J. L. & McGue, M. (1994). A simple algebraic demonstration of the validity of DeFries-Fulker analysis in unselected samples with multiple kinship levels. Behavior Genetics, 24, 259–262.
Rodgers J. L., Rowe, D. C, & Buster, M. (1999). Nature, nurture, and first intercourse: Fitting behavior genetic models to NLSY kinship data. Journal of Biosocial Sciences, 31, 29–41.
Ryder, N. M. & Westoff, C. F. (1969). Relationship among intended, expected, desired, and ideal family size: United States, 1965. Population Research (NICHD).
Williams, L. A. & Williams, B. J. (1974). A re-examination of the heritability of fertility in the British peerage. Social Biology, 21, 225–231.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rodgers, J.L., Doughty, D. (2000). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Fertility Expectations and Outcomes Using NLSY Kinship Data. In: Rodgers, J.L., Rowe, D.C., Miller, W.B. (eds) Genetic Influences on Human Fertility and Sexuality. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4467-8_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4467-8_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7012-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4467-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive