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Heritability of social cognitive skills in children and adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Jane Scourfield ,
Neilson Martin ,
Glyn Lewis  and
Peter McGuffin
Jane Scourfield*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Mediane, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
Neilson Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Mediane, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
Glyn Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Mediane, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
Peter McGuffin
Affiliation:
SGDP Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
J. Scourfield, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN
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Abstract

Background

Social cognitive skills are those which enable understanding of social situations; they are relevant to a variety of psychiatric disorders including autism, schizophrenia and externalising behaviour problems in children.

Aims

To examine the heritability of social cognitive skills.

Method

Using a population-based sample of twins aged 5–17, the genetic and environmental influences on social cognitive skills were examined.

Results

Male scores were higher than female scores (P < 0.001), indicating poorer social cognition among males. A heritability of 0.68 (95% CI 0.43–0.78) was found, with shared environmental influences accounting for only 0.05 of the variance (95% CI 0.00–0.28). This could be removed from the model without worsening the fit. There were no significant differences in genetic effects between the genders, but age-related changes were found, with younger twins showing greater genetic influence on social cognition.

Conclusions

Social cognition appears to be under considerable genetic influence in the population and shows significant male–female differences. No gender differences in genetic influences on the variance of scores were found, but the effects of age were significant.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 175 , Issue 6 , December 1999 , pp. 559 - 564
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

Support received from the Medical Research Council.

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