Twin Research and Human Genetics最新文献

The Mediating Role of Neurotic Personality Traits in the Relationship Between Height and Intelligence: Evidence From Mendelian Randomization and Mediation Analyses. 神经质人格特质在身高与智力关系中的中介作用：来自孟德尔随机化和中介分析的证据。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-05-07 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10069

Hanteng Wang, Kejin Zhang

{"title":"The Mediating Role of Neurotic Personality Traits in the Relationship Between Height and Intelligence: Evidence From Mendelian Randomization and Mediation Analyses.","authors":"Hanteng Wang, Kejin Zhang","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10069","url":null,"abstract":"Observational studies report a correlation between height and intelligence, but causality and mechanisms remain unclear due to confounding and reverse causation. Using large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data, we performed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses and two-step mediation analyses to examine the associations between height and intelligence (general and fluid), and potential mediation by neuroticism, body mass index (BMI), anxiety, and major depression. Genetically predicted height was positively associated with intelligence (general intelligence: β = 0.115, p = 1.2 × 10-19; fluid intelligence: β = 0.266, p = 5.7 × 10-22). Height was negatively associated with neuroticism (β = -0.032, p = 7.0 × 10-5) and BMI (β = -0.067, p = .002), which were in turn negatively associated intelligence. Mediation analyses showed significant indirect effect of neuroticism (6.09%, p = 2.6 × 10-4) and BMI (7.83%, p = 6.0 × 10-3). No mediation was found for anxiety or depression. Reverse MR also suggested positive associations of intelligence with height. This study provides genetic evidence for bidirectional association between height and intelligence, with neuroticism and BMI as potential mediators. These findings improve our understanding of the height-intelligence relationship and its underlying psychological and metabolic pathways.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The German Twin Registry (GERTRUD): Towards Harmonized, Multisource Twin Research. 德国双胞胎登记（GERTRUD）：朝着协调，多源双胞胎研究。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-05-04 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10057

Moana Beyer, Dmitry Kuznetsov, Simone Kühn

{"title":"The German Twin Registry (GERTRUD): Towards Harmonized, Multisource Twin Research.","authors":"Moana Beyer, Dmitry Kuznetsov, Simone Kühn","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10057","url":null,"abstract":"Twin registries worldwide increasingly function as large-scale research infrastructures, enabling standardized phenotyping across the lifespan, integration of biological and environmental data streams, and international cross-cohort collaborative research and replications. This development is also taking place in Germany. The GERman Twin Registry Under Development (GERTRUD; www.gertrud.info) was established in 2022 as the first nationwide research platform for recruiting twins and higher order multiples of all ages within Germany to support the large-scale genetically informative psychological, sociological, health, and neuroscience twin research at national and international levels. GERTRUD is being developed as a modular infrastructure that supports classical and extended twin family designs, combining annual core survey waves with optional embedded modules for intensive phenotyping (e.g., neuroimaging, smartphone-based assessments), biosampling, and linkage of participants' residential context to external geographic datasets via geospatial information systems (GIS). To operate within Germany's stringent data protection landscape, GERTRUD implements project-specific pseudonymisation, role-based access control, and contract-governed remote analysis access. This article describes GERTRUD's governance and legal-technical framework, its multisource data architecture, and the potential for collaboration across Germany and internationally. Examples of early data implementations further illustrate that the continuously collected multimodal twin data constitute a critical asset, essential for successful harmonization, replication, and collaborative and integrative behavioral genetics research.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147821391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Gene-Breastfeeding Interaction on Body Mass Index Among Chinese Twins Aged 2-18 Years. 基因-母乳喂养对2-18岁中国双胞胎体重指数的影响

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-04-15 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10052

Hui Cao, Wenjing Gao, Weihua Cao, Jun Lv, Canqing Yu, Shengfeng Wang, Tao Huang, Dianjianyi Sun, Chunxiao Liao, Yuanjie Pang, Min Yu, Jinyi Zhou, Xianping Wu, Zhong Dong, Fan Wu, Dezheng Wang, Jie Yin, Shengli Yin, Liming Li

{"title":"Gene-Breastfeeding Interaction on Body Mass Index Among Chinese Twins Aged 2-18 Years.","authors":"Hui Cao, Wenjing Gao, Weihua Cao, Jun Lv, Canqing Yu, Shengfeng Wang, Tao Huang, Dianjianyi Sun, Chunxiao Liao, Yuanjie Pang, Min Yu, Jinyi Zhou, Xianping Wu, Zhong Dong, Fan Wu, Dezheng Wang, Jie Yin, Shengli Yin, Liming Li","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10052","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of this study was to investigate the gene-breastfeeding interaction on BMI based on the Chinese National Twin Register (CNTR). The study included 4,573 pairs of same-sex twins aged 2-18 from CNTR. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire, and a structural equation model was used to analyze the gene-environment interaction of breastfeeding with BMI in six age groups. Our findings indicate that as age increases, the heritability of BMI shows an increasing trend, being the lowest (h2: 0.08; 95% CI [0.00, 0.19]) in the 6- to 8-year age group and the highest (h2: 0.57, 95% CI [0.44, 0.72]) in the 12- to 14-year age group. Additionally, breastfeeding significantly modified the additive genetic component of BMI in the 6- to 8-year age group and 12- to 14-year age group. In the 6- to 8-year age group, breastfeeding decreased the impact of genes on BMI, with a genetic effect modification coefficient (βa) of -0.19 (-0.25, -0.13). In the 12- to 14-year age group, breastfeeding increased the impact of genes on BMI, with a genetic effect modification coefficient (βa) of 0.08 (0.02, 0.15). In conclusion, as age increases, the genetic influence on children's BMI becomes more pronounced. Breastfeeding may modulate genetic effects at the ages of 6-8 and 12-14. Given the metabolic diversity of obesity, our findings offer insight into how breastfeeding interacts with genetic background, helping to unravel the complex gene-environment interplay influencing obesity.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147692560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey: The Methodology of a Population-Based Registry With Biobank. 东弗兰德斯前瞻性双胞胎调查：基于人口的生物库登记方法。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-04-14 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10044

Eline Meireson, Catherine Derom, Evert Thiery, Hilde Peeters, Esmée Bijnens, Bart Rutten, Tim Nawrot, Kristien Roelens, Steven Weyers

{"title":"The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey: The Methodology of a Population-Based Registry With Biobank.","authors":"Eline Meireson, Catherine Derom, Evert Thiery, Hilde Peeters, Esmée Bijnens, Bart Rutten, Tim Nawrot, Kristien Roelens, Steven Weyers","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10044","url":null,"abstract":"The East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey, established in 1964, is one of the longest running twin birth registries with known placentation in the world. It operates across 13 maternity hospitals in East Flanders, Belgium, and has already registered 10,787 twin pairs and 318 triplet sets. Using a standardized protocol, EFPTS prospectively collects perinatal and biological data at birth, including detailed placental examination, systematic clinical documentation, and biobanking. Longitudinal follow-up and integration with national health and environmental databases enable linkage of early-life data to later-life phenotypes. Enrichment through nationwide datasets, such as the Study Centre for Perinatal Epidemiology, Child and Family health centers, environmental databases (based on land cover data and national monitoring stations), the Belgian National Register, and genomic reference data, further expands research opportunities. With over 60 years of experience, the EFPTS provides a uniquely rich and reliable framework for investigating the (epi)genetic and environmental determinants of health and disease.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Trends in Birth Rates, Sex Ratio, and Infant Mortality Rates Among Singletons, Twins, and Higher Order Multiples in Brazil Between 2010 and 2023. 2010年至2023年巴西单胎、双胞胎和高序胎的出生率、性别比和婴儿死亡率趋势

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-04-13 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10061

Tania Kiehl Lucci, Bernardo Schonhorst de Oliveira, Claudia Monteiro Peixoto, Isabella Ribeiro Rodrigues, Claudio Possani, Ricardo Prist, Nancy L Segal, Edna Lúcia Tinoco Ponciano, Silvia Regina Dias Medici Saldiva, Mariana Azevedo Carvalho, Emma Otta

{"title":"Trends in Birth Rates, Sex Ratio, and Infant Mortality Rates Among Singletons, Twins, and Higher Order Multiples in Brazil Between 2010 and 2023.","authors":"Tania Kiehl Lucci, Bernardo Schonhorst de Oliveira, Claudia Monteiro Peixoto, Isabella Ribeiro Rodrigues, Claudio Possani, Ricardo Prist, Nancy L Segal, Edna Lúcia Tinoco Ponciano, Silvia Regina Dias Medici Saldiva, Mariana Azevedo Carvalho, Emma Otta","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10061","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines birth rates and infant mortality rates in Brazil among singletons, twins, and higher order multiples between 2010 and 2023. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Live Birth Information System and Infant Mortality Information System. The dataset comprised 39,663,928 live births and 464,843 infant deaths occurring within the first year of life. Twin birth rates increased steadily over time, while singleton birth rates declined. The highest twin birth rates were observed in the Southeast (11.64‰) and South (11.47‰), whereas the lowest were observed in the North (7.81‰) and Northeast (9.23‰). Infant mortality among twins was approximately five times higher than among singleton, and higher order multiples faced an approximately threefold greater risk compared to singletons. Infant mortality rates were highest in the North and Northeast and lowest in the Southeast and South. Sex ratios varied by gestation type, with singletons showing the expected male bias and twins a slightly reduced male proportion, reflecting biological and regional influences on birth rates in Brazil. The data reveal a marked demographic shift between 2010 and 2023, with birth rates declining among women in their teens and 20s and increasing among those in their late 30s and 40s. Using Weinberg's differential method, we identified divergent trends in zygosity: dizygotic birth rates increased significantly over time, whereas monozygotic rates remained stable. This contrast underscores the environmentally responsive nature of dizygotic twinning, particularly its association with advancing maternal age and assisted reproductive technologies, compared to the relatively biologically stable pattern of monozygotic twinning.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

umx version 4.5: Extending Twin and Path-Based SEM in R with CLPM, MR-DoC, Definition Variables, Ωnyx Integration, and Censored Distributions. umx版本4.5：在R中使用CLPM， MR-DoC，定义变量，Ωnyx集成和审查分布扩展Twin和基于路径的SEM。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-04-07 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10056

Luis F S Castro-de-Araujo, Nathan A Gillespie, Michael C Neale, Timothy Charles Bates

{"title":"umx version 4.5: Extending Twin and Path-Based SEM in R with CLPM, MR-DoC, Definition Variables, Ωnyx Integration, and Censored Distributions.","authors":"Luis F S Castro-de-Araujo, Nathan A Gillespie, Michael C Neale, Timothy Charles Bates","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10056","url":null,"abstract":"Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a flexible statistical technique with multiple applications, including behavioral genetics and social sciences. Building on the original design of the umx package, which improved accessibility to OpenMx by specifying a concise syntax, umx v4.5 extends functionality for longitudinal and causal twin designs while improving interoperability with graphical modeling tools such as Onyx. New capabilities include: classic and modern cross-lagged panel models; Mendelian Randomization Direction-of-Causation (MR-DoC) twin models incorporating polygenic scores as instruments; support for definition variables directly in umxRAM(); a workflow for importing paths from Ωnyx; a dedicated function for incorporating censored variables' data into models, particularly valuable in biomarker research; improved covariate placeholder handling for definition variables; sex-limitation modeling across five twin groups, accommodating quantitative and qualitative sex differences; and covariate residualization in wide- or long-format data. These new functionalities accelerate reproducible, reliable, publication-ready twin and family modeling, and integrated journal-quality reporting, thereby lowering barriers to genetic epidemiological analyses.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

How Genomic and Structural Context Could Shape JAK-STAT Variant Pathogenicity. 基因组和结构背景如何影响JAK-STAT变异致病性。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-03-31 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10054

Markus Hoffmann, Hye Kyung Lee

{"title":"How Genomic and Structural Context Could Shape JAK-STAT Variant Pathogenicity.","authors":"Markus Hoffmann, Hye Kyung Lee","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10054","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2026.10054","url":null,"abstract":"The Janus kinase (JAK)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) pathway is essential for cellular signal transduction, regulating immune responses, hematopoiesis, and cell proliferation. Dysregulation of JAK-STAT signaling due to genetic variations, particularly missense mutations, has been implicated in autoimmune disorders, cancers, and hematological malignancies. This study investigates missense mutations in JAK and STAT genes, focusing on disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and ClinVar benign variants identified in the All of Us and COSMIC databases. We analyzed the distribution of these mutations across functional domains, their structural localization, and biochemical properties. We identified mutation hotspots within specific domains, highlighting their correlation with disease phenotypes. Structural mapping revealed that disease-associated SNPs predominantly localize in linker regions and at the boundaries of secondary structures, suggesting a significant impact on folding, stability, and function of JAK and STAT proteins. Additionally, we examined the genomic context of mutations and identified vulnerable sequences; for example, 'GATC'. Furthermore, our analysis found no predominant association between potential CRISPR-Cas9 target sites and ClinVar benign/disease-associated SNPs. The analysis of amino acid sequence patterns surrounding mutations uncovered an enrichment of hydrophobic residues leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), methionine (Met), and phenylalanine (Phe) in close proximity to disease-associated mutations. Our findings emphasize the importance of structural and biochemical context in determining pathogenicity. In this study, we provide a bioinformatic strategy for refining variant classification and understanding the roles of JAK-STAT pathway mutations in disease.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13107192/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The Murcia Twin Registry: 20 Years of Study and Progress in Health and Behavioral Traits in Spain. 穆尔西亚双胞胎登记：西班牙健康和行为特征的20年研究和进展。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-03-31 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10048

Juan F Sánchez-Romera, Federico J Blanco-García, Eduvigis Carrillo, Lucía Colodro-Conde, Francisca González-Javier, Juan J Madrid-Valero, José M Martínez-Selva, Olga Monteagudo, José J Morosoli, Juan R Ordoñana

{"title":"The Murcia Twin Registry: 20 Years of Study and Progress in Health and Behavioral Traits in Spain.","authors":"Juan F Sánchez-Romera, Federico J Blanco-García, Eduvigis Carrillo, Lucía Colodro-Conde, Francisca González-Javier, Juan J Madrid-Valero, José M Martínez-Selva, Olga Monteagudo, José J Morosoli, Juan R Ordoñana","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10048","url":null,"abstract":"The Murcia Twin Registry (MTR) has steadily expanded over two decades and has become a key resource for twin research in the Mediterranean region. The registry currently includes data from 3971 individual twins born between 1940 and 1999, as well as an associated biobank containing samples from 1586 participants. Its primary research focus is on health and health-related behaviors within a public health framework, covering areas such as lifestyle, health promotion, quality of life, and environmental factors. Across multiple waves of data collection, the MTR has compiled extensive and wide-ranging phenotypic data. These data can be further expanded and have strong potential for record linkage with other health databases, particularly those of the regional public health care system, including both primary and inpatient care. Efforts are also underway to establish record linkage with additional sources of information, such as the educational system. In the near future, the registry aims to expand its biobank and continue the collection of longitudinal data, as well as increasing the ability to collect additional data that could enrich the information from participants in the register.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The National Project on Achievement in Twins: Integrating Across Data Resources in the United States. 双胞胎成就国家项目：整合美国的跨数据资源。

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-03-31 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10046

Sara A Hart, Ashlyn Hicks, Madison Poisall, Hongcui Du, Patrick Kennedy, Jeffrey Gruen, Jeanette Taylor, Colleen M Ganley, Callie W Little

{"title":"The National Project on Achievement in Twins: Integrating Across Data Resources in the United States.","authors":"Sara A Hart, Ashlyn Hicks, Madison Poisall, Hongcui Du, Patrick Kennedy, Jeffrey Gruen, Jeanette Taylor, Colleen M Ganley, Callie W Little","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10046","DOIUrl":"10.1017/thg.2026.10046","url":null,"abstract":"The National Project on Achievement in Twins (NatPAT) is a twin project based in the United States (US) that began in 2017. Using a cohort sequential design, the overall goal of the initial project was to uncover salient factors, including genetic and environmental influences, which contribute to the co-development of reading and math performance during elementary school. In 2022, the focus of NatPAT pivoted towards a new focus on the COVID-19 pandemic's short- and long-term impacts on children's reading achievement. In addition, a genomics data collection began. New enrollment into the registry continues every year, but currently NatPAT follows 1997 twin pairs and their families as they progress through school. The project supports open science principles, with open materials and code, preregistration, and shared data. Here we present the goals of the project, summarize recent results, methods and materials, with a focus on the integration across many different data sources, and future directions of the project.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13107190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

IF 1.2 4区医学

Twin Research and Human Genetics Pub Date : 2026-03-30 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2026.10050

Hans Fredrik Sunde, Philipp Dierker

{"title":"Are Spouses Similar in Divorce? Investigating Spousal Similarity in Couple-Shared Outcomes.","authors":"Hans Fredrik Sunde, Philipp Dierker","doi":"10.1017/thg.2026.10050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10050","url":null,"abstract":"In behavioral genetics, divorce is typically analyzed as an individual-level outcome, even though marital dissolution can only be experienced by couples. In this article, we discuss how assortative mating complicates the study of couple-shared outcomes because individual-level effects can be confounded by effects of the spouse. We then show how chain-linking affines (i.e., in-laws) provides sufficient information to estimate spousal similarity for couple-shared outcomes, which we incorporate into an extended twin model that we use to test for sex differences and assortative mating for individuals' liability to divorce. We linked the Norwegian twin register to the Norwegian population register and constructed 124,544 extended family units (1196 units with monozygotic twins) comprising 353,210 marriages entered between 1983 and 2008. We found that divorce was significantly correlated among affines, and that female relatives were more highly correlated than male relatives. The extended twin model estimated a strong correlation (r = .60, SE = .10) between female and male familial factors. Couples' liability to divorce was attributed to 18% (SE = 5%) female and 10% (SE = 3%) male familial factors, with an additional 16% (SE = 4%) accounted for by their correlation. Estimates from a classic twin model were considerably higher. These findings show that spousal similarity is an important source of variation in divorce liability and that failing to model it can inflate estimates of individual-level effects. Overall, the analytical framework offers a blueprint for dissecting any couple-shared outcome into sex-specific and assortative components.","PeriodicalId":23446,"journal":{"name":"Twin Research and Human Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147575409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0