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

Nes, Ragnhild Bang; Røysamb, Espen; Tambs, Kristian; Harris, J.R.; Reichborn‐Kjennerud, Ted

doi:10.1017/s0033291706007409

Cited by 185 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Both models reveal that common environmentalities have little influence on happiness. Indeed, model 1 estimates the value of c 2 at zero, a result consistent with estimates from other studies of well-being (Nes et al 2006). Common environmentalities play much more of a role in socioeconomic position and social support.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Happiness and Success: Genes, Families, and the Psychological Effects of Socioeconomic Position and Social Support

Schnittker

2008

American Journal of Sociology

100

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Although there is considerable evidence linking success-including wealth, marriage, and friendships-to happiness, this relationship might not reflect, as is often assumed, the effects of the proximate environment on well-being. Such an interpretation is contravened by evidence that both happiness and the environment are influenced by genetic factors and family upbringing. Using the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, which includes a subsample of twins, this study evaluates the relationship between happiness and various features of success before and after eliminating the influence of endowments. The results suggest that many putative indicators of the environment are highly heritable and, indeed, that the same genes that affect the environment may affect happiness as well. Yet the results also suggest that the role of genetic endowments varies considerably across different features of success, suggesting complex patterns of selection, reinforcement, and causation among genes and the environment.Abundant evidence links happiness with the achievements and assets valued by society. Education, work, and income are all associated with greater happiness (Mirowsky and Ross 1986), occupational self-direction is linked to positive affect (Schooler 1984), and social support is among the most powerful predictors of well-being (Smith-Lovin 1995). To explain these relationships, sociologists usually rely on a model wherein the social environment changes psychological states through assorted processes of

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Happiness and Success: Genes, Families, and the Psychological Effects of Socioeconomic Position and Social Support

Schnittker

2008

American Journal of Sociology

100

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“…The genetic and environmental influence on the stable variance in a phenotype may be estimated, and correspondingly influences on change and development. Interestingly, several studies have reported high genetic influences on stability factors, but also genetic innovation -new genetic factors starting to operate at certain ages Nes et al, 2006). Fourth, the children of twins design involves offspring of MZ and DZ twins, and examines similarity across and within generations.…”

Section: Classic and Extended Twin Designsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The beauty, logic and limitations of twin studies

Røysamb¹,

Tambs²

2016

Nor J Epidemiol

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During the last fifty years more than 2700 twin studies have been published, examining the etiology of a high number of traits. Twin studies enable investigation of both genetic and environmental effects, and thereby also examination of causal factors involved in human traits and disorders. The beauty of twin studies resides in the potential of studying the unobserved by the logic of a design. The aim of this article is to outline central theoretical foundations and possible limitations, and to review selected key findings. We describe the inherent fundamentals of the classic and extended twin designs. The logic of the main analytic approaches is outlined, and the principles of univariate biometric modelling described. Next, we review different multivariate models, including the Cholesky, correlated factors, common factor, common pathway and phenotypic causality models. Additionally, the cotwin-control approach, representing a natural experimental design, and mimicking a counterfactual situation, is outlined. Central assumptions, threats and limitations of the twin design are discussed. In particular, we address the issue of missing heritability, non-random mating, the equal environment assumption and gene-environment correlations. Finally, we review some selected findings from the field of behavior genetics and twin studies.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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“…S tím, jak se rozvíjí empirická věda o osobní pohodě, je však stále víc patrné, že se při jejím studiu nemůžeme omezovat jen na situaci, v níž se jedinec v daný okamžik nachází. Míra osobní pohody a spokojenosti je částečně výsledkem i dlouhodobých sociálně-psychologických procesů i genetických predispozic [Weiss, Bates, Luciano 2008;Nes et al 2006]. Do výzkumů osobní pohody a kvality života tak stále více proniká perspektiva životní dráhy [Chaloupková 2010].…”

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“…Ze soudobé odborné literatury je tedy patrné, že mentální zdraví a osobní pohoda jsou úzce propojeny, nepanuje však shoda, jak je přesně vymezit a jak vztah mezi těmito koncepty vypadá [Nes et al 2006]. Například Keyes [2007] chápe duševní poruchy a duševní zdraví a pohodu (flourishing) jako dvě odděle-né dimenze.…”

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Conflict in the Family of Origin, Subjective Wellbeing, and Mental Health in Adulthood

Hamplová¹,

Trusínová²

2018

Czech Sociological Review

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

Cited by 185 publications

References 59 publications

Happiness and Success: Genes, Families, and the Psychological Effects of Socioeconomic Position and Social Support

Happiness and Success: Genes, Families, and the Psychological Effects of Socioeconomic Position and Social Support

The beauty, logic and limitations of twin studies

Conflict in the Family of Origin, Subjective Wellbeing, and Mental Health in Adulthood

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