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Annals of General Psychiatry
Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Primary research

The genetic and environmental structure of the character sub-scales of the temperament and character inventory in adolescence

Authors: Nigel Lester, Danilo Garcia, Sebastian Lundström, Sven Brändström, Maria Råstam, Nóra Kerekes, Thomas Nilsson, C. Robert Cloninger, Henrik Anckarsäter

Published in: Annals of General Psychiatry | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The character higher order scales (self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence) in the temperament and character inventory are important general measures of health and well-being [Mens Sana Monograph 11:16–24 (2013)]. Recent research has found suggestive evidence of common environmental influence on the development of these character traits during adolescence. The present article expands earlier research by focusing on the internal consistency and the etiology of traits measured by the lower order sub-scales of the character traits in adolescence.

Methods

The twin modeling analysis of 423 monozygotic pairs and 408 same sex dizygotic pairs estimated additive genetics (A), common environmental (C), and non-shared environmental (E) influences on twin resemblance. All twins were part of the on-going longitudinal Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS).

Results

The twin modeling analysis suggested a common environmental contribution for two out of five self-directedness sub-scales (0.14 and 0.23), for three out of five cooperativeness sub-scales (0.07–0.17), and for all three self-transcendence sub-scales (0.10–0.12).

Conclusion

The genetic structure at the level of the character lower order sub-scales in adolescents shows that the proportion of the shared environmental component varies in the trait of self-directedness and in the trait of cooperativeness, while it is relatively stable across the components of self-transcendence. The presence of this unique shared environmental effect in adolescence has implications for understanding the relative importance of interventions and treatment strategies aimed at promoting overall maturation of character, mental health, and well-being during this period of the life span.
Appendix
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Footnotes
1
“The exact algorithm to select candidates for the questionnaire study was a DSM A-TAC score for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ≥8, autism spectrum disorders ≥4.5, conduct ≥1, opposition ≥2, compulsions ≥1, Tics ≥1, eating problems ≥1 and an endorsement of dysfunction and/or suffering related to the symptoms (a problem score of ≥1), or had a parentally reported clinical diagnosis of one or more of these conditions, in total corresponding to 7 % of the children in 13 % of the twin pairs, and a random sample of control twin pairs (1 in 20 interviews). Since November 2008, with access to new validation information, the questionnaires have also been sent to pairs in which one or both twins scored ≥8 in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ≥4.5 in autism spectrum disorders, ≥1.5 in eating problems, ≥3 in oppositional/conduct ≥2 in Tics, ≥1 in compulsions, ≥1 in motor control, or ≥3 in Learning using the DSM score regardless of whether they indicated dysfunction or suffering related to the problems or characteristics” [20].
 
2
The Greek word psyche found in psychology and psychiatry stands for "life, soul, or spirit,", which is distinct from soma, which refers to the "body" [3]; see also [48‐51].
 
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Metadata
Title
The genetic and environmental structure of the character sub-scales of the temperament and character inventory in adolescence
Authors
Nigel Lester
Danilo Garcia
Sebastian Lundström
Sven Brändström
Maria Råstam
Nóra Kerekes
Thomas Nilsson
C. Robert Cloninger
Henrik Anckarsäter
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Annals of General Psychiatry / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1744-859X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-016-0094-2

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