title: The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt): a longitudinal study of child and adolescent development.
abstract: Rates of emotional and behavioral problems among children and adolescents in China are increasing and represent a major public health concern. To investigate the etiology of such problems, including the effects and interplay of genes and environment, the Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt) was established. A representative sample of adolescent twins in Beijing (N = 1,387 pairs of adolescent twins, mostly between the ages of 10 and 18 years) was recruited and assessed longitudinally. Data collection included the following: emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, delinquency, drinking, and smoking); family, peer, and school environments; stress; social and academic competence; cognitive traits (e.g., emotion suppression, rumination, and effortful control); and saliva samples for DNA genotyping and sequencing. The combination of quantitative and molecular genetic approaches and the timeliness of the project, with the sample residing in a region with a rapidly changing economic and cultural climate, are particular strengths of this study. Findings from this study are expected to help understanding of the etiological mechanisms underlying child and adolescent normal and abnormal development in regions undergoing substantial social, cultural, and economic changes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Misaki N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Natsuaki
authors.forename: Leslie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Leve
authors.forename: Gordon T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Harold
authors.forename: Zhiyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaojia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*