Components and Sources of Well-being and Ill-being: A Twin Study

This paper gives a brief introduction to genetically-informative studies of well-being and presents findings from a multivariate twin study. Here we investigate the extent to which the underlying structure of key components of... [ view full abstract ]

This paper gives a brief introduction to genetically-informative studies of well-being and presents findings from a multivariate twin study. Here we investigate the extent to which the underlying structure of key components of well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, optimism, self-efficacy, positive affect) and ill-being (i.e., anxiety and depression) is multidimensional, and whether well-being and ill-being are influenced by distinct genetic and environmental factors. Additionally, more specific life circumstances and events associated with environmental sources of well-being and ill-being, are examined. The analyses are based on data from altogether 1987 Norwegian male and female twins, born between 1945 and 1960, and surveyed in 2016. Measures include the Satisfaction With Life Scale, the Depression and Anxiety subscales of the Symptom Check List, the Life Orientation Test, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, the Relationship Satisfaction Scale, and the Differential Emotion Scale, along with a measure of meaning in life. The data are analyzed using biometric twin modelling and the results and their implications will be discussed.