Comparison of academic performance of twins and singletons in adolescence: follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether twins in recent cohorts show similar academic performance in adolescence to singletons and to test the effect of birth weight on academic performance in twins and singletons.


METHODS
Follow-up study.


METHODS
Denmark.


METHODS
All twins (n=3411) and a 5% random sample of singletons (n=7796) born in Denmark during 1986-8.


METHODS
Test scores in ninth grade (age 15 or 16), birth weight, gestational age at birth, parents' age, and parents' education.


RESULTS
Ninth grade test scores were normally distributed, with almost identical mean and standard deviations for twins and singletons (8.02 v 8.02 and 1.05 v 1.06) despite the twins weighing on average 908 g (95% confidence interval 886 to 930 g) less than the singletons at birth. Controlling for birth weight, gestational age at birth, age at test, and parents' age and education confirmed the similarity of test scores for twins and singletons (difference 0.04, 95% confidence interval -0.03 to 0.10). A significant, positive association between test score and birth weight was observed in both twins and singletons, but the size of the effect was small: 0.06-0.12 standard deviations for every kilogram increase in birth weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Although older cohorts of twins have been found to have lower mean IQ scores than singletons, twins in recent Danish cohorts show similar academic performance in adolescence to that of singletons. Birth weight has a minimal effect on academic performance in recent cohorts; for twins this effect is best judged relative to what is a normal birth weight for twins and not for singletons.
Christensen
Kaare
K
Danish Twin Registry, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark. kchristensen@health.sdu.dk
Petersen
Inge
I
Skytthe
Axel
A
Herskind
Anne Maria
AM
McGue
Matt
M
Bingley
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D014427:Twins / Q000523:psychology*