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Life Events and Depressive Symptoms in Childhood — Shared Genes or Shared Adversity? A Research Note

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1998

Anita Thapar ,
Gordon Harold  and
Peter McGuffin
Anita Thapar
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, U.K.
Gordon Harold
Affiliation:
University of Wales, Cardiff, U.K.
Peter McGuffin
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
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Abstract

A twin study design was used to examine to what extent genetic and environmental factors mediate the association between life events and depressive symptoms. Questionnaire measures (maternally rated) of depressive symptoms and life events were obtained for a systematically ascertained sample of 270 twin pairs aged 8 to 17 years. Bivariate genetic model fitting showed that depressive symptoms and some life events (total events, negative impact) share a common genetic influence. The covariation of independent life events and depressive symptoms was explained by a shared environmental influence common to both. At least part of the association between life events and depressive symptoms is mediated by familial factors that include both genes and shared environment.

Keywords

Depressiontwinslife eventsgenetics
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines , Volume 39 , Issue 8 , November 1998 , pp. 1153 - 1158
Copyright
© 1998 Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry

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