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Longitudinal Effects on Early Adolescent Language: A Twin Study
Nicole Harlaar1, Laura Segebart DeThorne2, Jamie Mahurin Smith3
1School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|October 13, 2016
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence formal language skills in adolescents, while environmental factors shape productive language abilities. These influences show varying stability over time, highlighting the complex etiology of language development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Linguistics
Background:
- Individual differences in language skills emerge during early adolescence.
- Understanding the interplay of genetic and environmental factors is crucial for language development research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genetic and environmental contributions to language skills in early adolescence.
- To examine the stability of these influences across time.
- To differentiate etiological factors based on assessment methods.
Main Methods:
- Structural equation modeling was applied to a sample of 527 twins.
- Latent factors for Formal Language (standardized tests) and Productive Language (language sampling) were analyzed.
- Data were collected at three time points during early adolescence (ages 10-12).
Main Results:
- Formal Language skills were predominantly influenced by additive genetic factors.
- Productive Language skills were primarily shaped by nonshared environmental influences.
- Genetic effects on Formal Language demonstrated high stability across time, while nonshared environmental effects on Productive Language showed limited stability.
Conclusions:
- The etiological pathways for language outcomes differ based on the assessment context (standardized tests vs. language sampling).
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms of nonshared environmental influences on language development.
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