Genetic influence on age at first birth of female twins born in the UK, 1919-68

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4871244
AutoresFelix C Tropf (0000-0003-2445-515X, University of Groningen), Nicola Barban (0000-0002-4362-4652, University of Groningen), Melinda C Mills (0000-0003-1704-0001, University of Groningen), Harold Snieder (0000-0003-1949-2298, University of Groningen), Jornt J Mandemakers (0000-0002-1718-6599, University of Groningen)
Ano2015
Volume69
Fascículo2
Páginas129-145
Data de publicação2015-05-04
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPopulation Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0032-4728 • E-ISSN: 1477-4747
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00324728.2015.1056823
PMID26234944
OpenAlexW1657275493
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas14
Referências citadas57

Using a sample of monozygotic (945, 42 per cent) and dizygotic (1,329, 58 per cent) twin pairs born 1919-68 in the UK, we applied innovative tobit models to investigate genetic and environmental influences on age at first birth (AFB). We found that a substantial part (40 per cent) of the variation in AFB is caused by latent family characteristics. Genetic dispositions (26 per cent) play a more important role than the shared environment of siblings (14 per cent), with the non-shared environment/measurement error having the strongest influence (60 per cent). Like previous studies, this study reveals marked changes in estimates over time, and supports the idea that environmental constraints (war or economic crisis) suppress and normative freedom (sexual revolution) promotes the activation of genetic predispositions that affect fertility. We show that the exclusion of censored information (i.e., on the childless) by previous studies biased their results

Affect (linguistics) · Biology · Dizygotic twins · Econometrics · Economics · Fertility · Heritability · Normative · Obstetrics · Political science · Sociology · Tobit model · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Genetics · Medicine · Psychology