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The Etiology of Behavior Problems in 7-Year-Old Twins: Substantial Genetic Influence and Negligible Shared Environmental Influence for Parent Ratings and Ratings by Same and Different Teachers

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Abstract

Parent ratings of behavior problems in childhood show substantial genetic influence and modest shared environmental influence. However, few studies have compared these results to teacher ratings and no previous studies have compared same-teacher ratings to different-teacher ratings. 3,714 7-year-old twin pairs in the Twins Early Development Study were rated by parents and teachers on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Substantial heritability and negligible shared environmental influence were found for data from all three raters for total behavior problems, hyperactivity, prosocial behavior, peer problems, conduct problems, and emotional symptoms. Sex-limitation models revealed similar results for males and females, although there was some evidence for greater heritability for boys, especially when twins were rated by the same teacher.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

    Kimberly J. Saudino

  2. Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    Angelica Ronald & Robert Plomin

  3. Psychology Department, Boston University, 64 Cummington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215

    Kimberly J. Saudino

Authors
  1. Kimberly J. Saudino
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  2. Angelica Ronald
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  3. Robert Plomin
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Correspondence to Kimberly J. Saudino.

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Saudino, K.J., Ronald, A. & Plomin, R. The Etiology of Behavior Problems in 7-Year-Old Twins: Substantial Genetic Influence and Negligible Shared Environmental Influence for Parent Ratings and Ratings by Same and Different Teachers. J Abnorm Child Psychol 33, 113–130 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-0939-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-0939-7

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