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The Southern Illinois Twins and Siblings Study (SITSS): description and update
Lisabeth Fisher Dilalla1, Sufna Gheyara, Kyle Bersted
1Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA. Ldilalla@siu.edu
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence social behaviors like aggression and attention in children. Environmental interactions, particularly with the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), also predict aggressive behaviors, with twins showing more social difficulties.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Developmental Psychology
- Human Behavior
Background:
- The Southern Illinois Twins and Siblings Study (SITSS) is an ongoing research project.
- It investigates the genetic and environmental influences on social behaviors from early childhood through adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document follow-up studies and findings from the SITSS cohort.
- To understand the etiology of social behaviors and their predictors across development.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data collection from twins, triplets, siblings, and singletons from age 1 to 20 years.
- Behavioral assessments focusing on social behaviors, including aggression, victimization, and attention to facial expressions.
- Genetic analysis incorporating the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) and its interaction with environmental factors.
Main Results:
- Significant genetic influences identified for social behaviors such as aggression, victimization, and facial expression attention.
- Demonstrated interaction between the DRD4 gene and social environment (parental sensitivity, peer aggression) in predicting aggression.
- Observed increased social interaction difficulties in twins compared to singletons.
Conclusions:
- The SITSS dataset provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of genetics and environment in shaping social behaviors.
- Findings highlight the role of genetic predispositions and environmental moderators in the development of social behaviors from preschool to adolescence.
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