Abstract
We analyzed genetic and environmental determinants of self-rated health and its change from adolescence to early adulthood. Questionnaires were mailed to Finnish twins born 1975–1979 at ages 16, 17, \(18\frac{1}{2}\) and, on average, 25 years of age (N = 2465 complete twin pairs). The data were analyzed using quantitative genetic methods for twin data by the Mx statistical package. Heritability of self-rated health was greatest at age 16 (63%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 56–67%, men and women together) and declined steadily to age 25 (33%, 95% CI 25–41%). The residual variation was due to unshared environments. Health ratings at different ages were modestly correlated (r = 0.33–0.61). These correlations were mainly due to genetic factors, but unshared environment also contributed to them. An important challenge for further research is to identify environmental influences contributing to self-rated health independently of, or in interaction with, genetic factors.
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Acknowledgments
The FinnTwin16 study has been supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (grant AA08315, AA12502, and AA00145), the Academy of Finland (grants 44069, 100499 and 205585) and the European Union Fifth Framework Program GenomEUtwin project (QLG2-CT-2002-01254). KS is supported by the Academy of Finland (grant 108297). DP is supported by NWO/MaGW Vernieuwingsimpuls 016-065-318.
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Silventoinen, K., Posthuma, D., Lahelma, E. et al. Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Self-Rated Health from Age 16–25: A Longitudinal Study of Finnish Twins. Behav Genet 37, 326–333 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9096-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9096-1