title: Genetic and environmental factors affecting self-rated health from age 16-25: a longitudinal study of Finnish twins.
abstract: We analyzed genetic and environmental determinants of self-rated health and its change from adolescence to early adulthood. Questionnaires were mailed to Finnish twins born 1975-1979 at ages 16, 17, 18 1/2 and, on average, 25 years of age (N=2465 complete twin pairs). The data were analyzed using quantitative genetic methods for twin data by the Mx statistical package. Heritability of self-rated health was greatest at age 16 (63%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 56-67%, men and women together) and declined steadily to age 25 (33%, 95% CI 25-41%). The residual variation was due to unshared environments. Health ratings at different ages were modestly correlated (r=0.33-0.61). These correlations were mainly due to genetic factors, but unshared environment also contributed to them. An important challenge for further research is to identify environmental influences contributing to self-rated health independently of, or in interaction with, genetic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 41, Mannerheimintie 172, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland. karri.silventoinen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Karri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silventoinen
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Posthuma
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahelma
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics