Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Relationships Between Family Connectedness, School Connectedness, and Adolescent Depressed Mood: Sex Differences

Citation

Jacobson, K. C. & Rowe, D. C. (1999). Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Relationships Between Family Connectedness, School Connectedness, and Adolescent Depressed Mood: Sex Differences. Developmental Psychology. vol. 35 (4) pp. 926-939

Abstract

This study investigated (a) genetic and environmental contributions to the relationship between family and school environment and depressed mood and (b) potential sex differences in genetic and environmental contributions to both variation in and covariation between family connectedness, school connectedness, and adolescent depressed mood. Data are from 2,302 adolescent sibling pairs (mean age=16 years) who were part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Although genetic factors appeared to be important overall, model-fitting analyses revealed that the best-fitting model was a model that allowed for different parameters for male and female adolescents. Genetic contributions to variation in all 3 variables were greater among female adolescents than male adolescents, especially for depressed mood. Genetic factors also contributed to the correlations between family and school environment and adolescent depressed mood, although, again, these factors were stronger for female than for male adolescents.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.35.4.926

Keyword(s)

Genetic Depression

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Developmental Psychology

Author(s)

Jacobson, K. C.
Rowe, D. C.

Year Published

1999

Volume Number

35

Issue Number

4

Pages

926-939

DOI

10.1037/0012-1649.35.4.926

Reference ID

15