Heritability of Intraindividual Mean and Variability of Positive and Negative Affect.

ABSTRACT: Positive affect (e.g., attentiveness) and negative affect (e.g., upset) fluctuate over time. We examined genetic influences on interindividual differences in the day-to-day variability of affect (i.e., ups and downs) and in average affect over the duration of a month. Once a day, 17-year-old twins in the United Kingdom ( N = 447) rated their positive and negative affect online. The mean and standard deviation of each individual's daily ratings across the month were used as the measures of that individual's average affect and variability of affect. Analyses revealed that the average of negative affect was significantly heritable (.53), but the average of positive affect was not; instead, the latter showed significant shared environmental influences (.42). Fluctuations across the month were

SUBMITTER: Zheng Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5221725 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature