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Stability and change in temperament during adolescence
Jody M Ganiban1, Kimberly J Saudino, Jennifer Ulbricht
1Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. ganiban@gwu.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|July 9, 2008
Summary
Genetic and nonshared environmental factors significantly influence adolescent temperament. Shared environmental influences were minimal, though sibling contrast effects initially masked genetic contributions.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Development
Background:
- Understanding the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in shaping personality traits is crucial for developmental psychology.
- Adolescence is a critical period for temperament development, influenced by both inherited predispositions and environmental interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the genetic and environmental contributions to adolescent temperament.
- To examine the influence of shared and nonshared environmental factors on temperament.
- To investigate the role of sibling contrast effects and interaction effects on temperament development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Nonshared Environment and Adolescent Development (NEAD) project, a national study of twins and sibling pairs.
- Collected parent-reported temperament ratings (emotionality, activity, sociability, shyness) from 720 sibling pairs at Time 1 (ages 12.1-13.5) and 395 pairs at Time 2 (ages 14.7-16.2).
- Employed quantitative genetic methods to analyze variance in temperament, accounting for genetic relatedness and environmental influences.
Main Results:
- Genetic and nonshared environmental factors significantly accounted for temperament variance at both time points.
- Shared environmental contributions to temperament were negligible.
- Sibling contrast effects initially inflated genetic contributions and masked shared environmental influences at Time 1, but had minimal impact at Time 2.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent temperament is primarily shaped by genetic factors and nonshared environmental influences.
- Shared family environment plays a minimal role in temperament development during adolescence.
- Temperament stability is largely genetic, while changes in temperament are influenced by both genetic and nonshared environmental factors.
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