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Biometrical genetic models of self-reported delinquent behavior: A twin study

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Abstract

Adolescent twins reported delinquent acts on an anonymous questionaire. Intraclass correlations and mean squares were obtained by analysis of variance. Monozygotic (MZ) twins were more alike in their rates of antisocial behavior (ABS) than dizygotic (DZ) twins, and this result held for both sexes (rs MZ, 0.62–0.74; rs DZ, 0.46–0.52). Biometrical models were fitted to ASB (untransformed and log-transformed) mean squares. Only models containing a parameter for additive genetic variability fitted; the purely environmental common environment (CE) specific environment (SE) model was rejected. Several tests supported the equal environments assumption, indicating that the inference of genetic influence was legitimate. However, antisocial behavior was a complex “phenotype.” A correlation between pair means/differences showed that influences common to twin partners interacted with SE. This result suggested that random evironmental opportunities which may be present for one twin but not the other had an effect on delinquency rates. Twins also commited delinquent acts with one another. This result provides a different interpretation for the “common-environment” parameter; this parameter may reflect the influence of one twin on the other, rather than aspects of home environment determined by the twins' parents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Development, The University of Oklahoma, 601 Elm Avenue, 73019, Oklahoma, Norman

    David C. Rowe

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  1. David C. Rowe
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This research was supported by Grant MH34086 from the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. I wish to express my thanks to the twin respondents, Mothers of Twins Clubs, and Ohio School Districts for their generous cooperation with this study. The assistance of Nancy Winship-Cook with data entry and administration is gratefully acknowledged.

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Rowe, D.C. Biometrical genetic models of self-reported delinquent behavior: A twin study. Behav Genet 13, 473–489 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065923

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