Genetic architecture of Environmental Sensitivity reflects multiple heritable components: a twin study with adolescents.

ABSTRACT: Humans differ substantially in how strongly they respond to similar experiences. Theory suggests that such individual differences in susceptibility to environmental influences have a genetic basis. The present study investigated the genetic architecture of Environmental Sensitivity (ES) by estimating its heritability, exploring the presence of multiple heritable components and its genetic overlap with common personality traits. ES was measured with the Highly Sensitive Child (HSC) questionnaire and heritability estimates were obtained using classic twin design methodology in a sample of 2868 adolescent twins. Results indicate that the heritability of sensitivity was 0.47, and that the genetic influences underlying sensitivity to negative experiences are relatively distinct from sensitivity

SUBMITTER: Assary E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8589650 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature