On the etiology of self-esteem: Genetic and environmental effects

Self-esteem is related to a variety of positive life outcomes, including social integration, job success, or health. In contrast to the broad literature on the consequences of self-esteem, little is known about the genetic and... [ view full abstract ]

Self-esteem is related to a variety of positive life outcomes, including social integration, job success, or health. In contrast to the broad literature on the consequences of self-esteem, little is known about the genetic and environmental factors that shape the origin and development of self-esteem. Using data from the TwinLife project (~4,000 twin families) and an extended twin family design (ETFD), we examine the interplay of social (environmental) and genetic influences on self-esteem. In addition, using moderated ETFD models, we tested whether the genetic and environmental influences on self-esteem vary as a function of age, gender, and socio-economic status (SES). Results suggest that individual differences in self-esteem are influenced by genetic, nonshared environmental and shared environmental factors. Perhaps surprising, the latter were not passed from parent to offspring but reflected the influence of non-parental factors such as shared demographic factors. We further documented moderation effects of age, gender, and SES on the genetic and environmental influences on self-esteem. We discuss how genetic and environmental contributions to self-esteem might be more richly conceptualized as dynamic systems of gene-environment interplay.

In addition to cohort effects, comparing 17 y old with 23/24 year old twins, we study interactions of genes with family-of-origin socioeconomic status (SES, income or education) using a nuclear twin family design that includes not only data from the twins but also data from their parents and a sibling.

As expected we find substantial genetic and environmental effects and significant age trends indicating stronger genetic effects on the older twins, but only marginal effects of gene x environment interactions. Non-shared environmental effects are examined by studying monozygotic twins discordant for environmental variables.