Medical Psychology
Twin studies on the influence of heredity and environment on children and adolescents' peer relationship
Xiaomei Hu, Yixiao Fu, Xingshun Ma, Wenfen Zhu, Xiao Hou, Huaqing Meng, Tian Qiu, Yang Liu, Xiao Li
Published 2016-08-20
Cite as Chin J Med Edu Res, 2016, 15(8): 837-842. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.2095-1485.2016.08.021
Abstract
ObjectiveTo explore the influence of genetic and environmental factors on children and adolescents' peer relationship.
MethodsThe peer relations of 178 twin pairs from Chongqing, aged from 6 to 18, were investigated with the strengths and difficulties questionnaire(SDQ)parents version, and then the survey data were analyzed for genetic, descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis with statistical software Open-Mx and SPSS 20.0.
ResultNon-shared environment factors had an impact on peer relationship of male and female children, 0.37, 0.40(95%CI=0.24 to 0.37, 95%CI=0.27 to 0.58). The peer relations of female child and adolescent were influenced by shared environment factors, 0.60(95%CI=0.42 to 0.73). And the peer relations of male child and adolescent were affected by the genetic factors, 0.63(95%CI= 0.43 to 0.76). The impact of non-shared environmental and genetic factors on the group aged 11 and older was greater than the group younger than 11 years old, 0.51, 0.38(95% CI=0 to 0.72, 0 to 0.58), 0.38, 0.32(95% CI=0 to 0.65, 0 to 0.70), and the shared environmental factors can affect the group younger than 11 years old, 0.11, 0.30(95% CI=0 to 0.54, 0 to 0.67). For the homozygotic twin group, the male and female group, the group aged 11 and older or the group educated for longer or shorter than 6 years, the peer relations of child and adolescent and the family cohesion and adaptability were negatively related. And the peer relations of the dizygotic twin group were negatively correlated with adaptability but the degree of intimacy was not obvious. There was no obvious correlation between peer relations and family cohesion and adaptability in the group younger than 11 years old.
ConclusionAccording to different gender and age, the effect of genetic and environmental factors on peer relationships of child and adolescent is diverse. The male are mainly influenced by genetic factors, while the female are mainly affected by the shared environ-ment. And the impact of non-shared environment on both male and female should not be ignored. The greater the age, the greater the impact of non shared environment on peer relationship, the smaller the impact of sharing environment. In addition, the role of family cohesion and adaptability in the peer relations is dif-ferent because of egg type and ages.
Key words:
Heritability; Environmental factors; Twins; Structural equation modeling; Peer relationship
Contributor Information
Xiaomei Hu
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Department of Neonatology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, China
Yixiao Fu
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Xingshun Ma
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Wenfen Zhu
Nursing College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Xiao Hou
Clinical College, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing 400021, China
Huaqing Meng
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Tian Qiu
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Yang Liu
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Xiao Li
Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
