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Genetic and environmental factors affecting self-esteem from age 14 to 17: a longitudinal study of Finnish twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2007

ANU RAEVUORI ,
DANIELLE M. DICK ,
ANNA KESKI-RAHKONEN ,
LEA PULKKINEN ,
RICHARD J. ROSE ,
AILA RISSANEN ,
JAAKKO KAPRIO ,
RICHARD J. VIKEN  and
KARRI SILVENTOINEN
ANU RAEVUORI*
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
DANIELLE M. DICK
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
ANNA KESKI-RAHKONEN
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, USA Obesity Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland
LEA PULKKINEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
RICHARD J. ROSE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
AILA RISSANEN
Affiliation:
Obesity Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland
JAAKKO KAPRIO
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Mental Health, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
RICHARD J. VIKEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
KARRI SILVENTOINEN
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Anu Raevuori, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, 00014University of Helsinki, Finland. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

We analysed genetic and environmental influences on self-esteem and its stability in adolescence.

Method

Finnish twins born in 1983–1987 were assessed by questionnaire at ages 14 (n=4132 twin individuals) and 17 years (n=3841 twin individuals). Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg global self-esteem scale and analyzed using quantitative genetic methods for twin data in the Mx statistical package.

Results

The heritability of self-esteem was 0·62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·56–0·68] in 14-year-old boys and 0·40 (95% CI 0·26–0·54) in 14-year-old girls, while the corresponding estimates at age 17 were 0·48 (95% CI 0·39–0·56) and 0·29 (95% CI 0·11–0·45). Rosenberg self-esteem scores at ages 14 and 17 were modestly correlated (r=0·44 in boys, r=0·46 in girls). In boys, the correlation was mainly (82%) due to genetic factors, with residual co-variation due to unique environment. In girls, genetic (31%) and common environmental (61%) factors largely explained the correlation.

Conclusions

In adolescence, self-esteem seems to be differently regulated in boys versus girls. A key challenge for future research is to identify environmental influences contributing to self-esteem during adolescence and determine how these factors interact with genetic influences.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 11 , November 2007 , pp. 1625 - 1633
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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