[A twin study on genetic and environmental factors of children's prosocial behavior].
OBJECTIVE
Using quantitative genetic analysis of twin study design to explore the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the prosocial behaviors of children.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-seven twin pairs from Chengdu area aged 6-16 were studied using parental information of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). SPSS13.0 and Mx software were used to analyze data, including nonparametric test, Pearson correlation, genetic analyses, etc.


RESULTS
(1) Female children score higher than males on their prosocial behavior (Ps< 0.05), except less than 11 age group; (2) Shared environmental factors were the most important for children's prosocial behaviors(C=0.48,95%CI:0.09-0.73),then the genetic factors (A=0.27,95%CI:0-0.66) and the unshared environmental factors(E=0.25,95%CI:0.18-0.35); (3)Female and those who scored higher on their fact/ideal family adaptability and cohesion scored higher in their prosocial behaviors (r:0.17-0.29). On the contrary, those who had extreme conditions during pregnancy/ perinatal period or whose caretaker had discordant opinions on parenting scored lower (r: -0.16 to 0.28).


CONCLUSIONS
Children's prosocial behaviors were influenced by genetic and environmental factors including family function and parenting environment, and genetic impact differs in different age and sex.
Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041 PR China.
Ming-jing
MJ
Situ
Yi
Y
Zhang
Tao
T
Li
Xin
X
Gao
Xiao-wei
XW
Zhang
Hui
H
Fang
Yi
Y
Huang
D000293:Adolescent; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*