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

Bibliographic Data

ID4871244
AuthorsFelix 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)
Year2015
Volume69
Issue2
Pages129-145
Publication date2015-05-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePopulation Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-4728 • E-ISSN: 1477-4747
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00324728.2015.1056823
PMID26234944
OpenAlexW1657275493
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited57

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