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Persist or quit? Testing for a genetic contribution to smoking persistence.
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Acta Geneticae Medicae Et Gemellologiae
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Genetic and environmental factors influencing smoking initiation also affect persistence, supporting a single liability dimension model. This challenges theories emphasizing nicotine dependence as the primary driver of continued smoking.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Understanding the genetic and environmental underpinnings of smoking behavior is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Previous models have proposed distinct or shared liability dimensions for smoking initiation and persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate three parametric models explaining genetic and environmental influences on smoking initiation and persistence.
- To reanalyze existing twin data to determine the best-fitting model for these behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Consideration of three models: single liability dimension, independent liability dimensions, and a combined model.
- Reanalysis of London twin data previously published by Eaves and Eysenck.
Main Results:
- The single liability dimension model provided the best fit for the analyzed twin data.
- This suggests that the same genetic and environmental factors influence both the decision to start smoking and to continue smoking.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a unified genetic and environmental influence on smoking initiation and persistence.
- This challenges the hypothesis that nicotine dependence is the sole major determinant of smoking persistence.
- Limitations include the small sample size of the London twin study, warranting further investigation.