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Subjective Wellbeing and Sleep Problems: A Bivariate Twin Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Ragnhild B. Nes ,
Espen Røysamb ,
Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud ,
Kristian Tambs  and
Jennifer R. Harris
Ragnhild B. Nes*
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. Ragnhild.bang.nes@fhi.no
Espen Røysamb
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oslo, Norway.
Kristian Tambs
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Jennifer R. Harris
Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
*
*Address for correspondence: Ragnhild Bang Nes, Division of Epidemiology, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Pb 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

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The relationship between subjective wellbeing (SWB) and self-reported sleep problems was investigated in a cohort of Norwegian twins aged 18 to 31 years. Questionnaire data from 8045 same- and opposite-sex twins were analyzed using structural equation modeling to explore the relative effects of genetic and environmental influences on phenotypic variance and covariance. Special attention was paid to sex-specific effects. The correlation between the phenotypes was estimated to be −.43. Univariate analyses indicated considerable genetic influences for both SWB and sleep problems, for male and female twins alike. The best fitting bivariate model specified additive genetic and individual environmental factors for both phenotypes, and nonadditive genetic effects for sleep problems, with no sex-specific effects. Genetic and environmental effects accounted for 60% and 40% of the phenotypic correlation, respectively. Additive genetic factors affecting the two phenotypes were correlated (−.85), suggesting that part of the genetic effects that positively influence SWB also protect against sleep problems. In conclusion, the results indicate considerable overlap in genetic etiology for SWB and sleep problems, for males and females alike.

Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , 01 October 2005 , pp. 440 - 449
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005