The Genetic and Environmental Influence on Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: A Genetic Sensitive Study

Abstract

Presents a study of the genetic and environmental influence on adolescent depressive symptoms. No gender difference was found in the present study. The first objective of the study was to examine the heritability of adolescent depressive symptoms for boys and girls in China, respectively. The second objective of the study was to extend previous ones by examining whether the heritability of depressive symptoms in early-adolescence was different from that in mid-adolescence. The third objective of the study was to examine the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the stability of adolescent depressive symptoms in early and middle adolescence, respectively. Genetic factors accounted for more variance of adolescent depressive symptoms in early adolescence than in middle adolescence, and the magnitude of nonshared environmental influence increased with time. Genetic factors contributed to the stability of depressive symptoms in early adolescence whereas environmental influence contributed to the stability of depressive symptoms in middle adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)