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Examining the state-trait anxiety relationship: a behavioural genetic approach

Examining the state-trait anxiety relationship: a behavioural genetic approach
Examining the state-trait anxiety relationship: a behavioural genetic approach
State and trait anxiety define different aspects of anxiety, and may represent environmentally and genetically mediated components of this phenotype. Furthermore their relationship, where trait anxiety is expressed through levels of state anxiety under threatening circumstances, may represent a process of interplay between a genetic vulnerability factor and an environmental stressor. To test these hypotheses, we explored genetic and environmental influences on measures of state and trait anxiety in a sample of 1058 twins (521 males and 537 females) aged 8–16. The results were consistent with these hypotheses. State anxiety is largely influenced by environmental factors in males and females whereas trait anxiety shows moderate genetic effects and substantial non-shared environment effects. Their association was accounted for by non-shared environmental effects, with modest genetic and shared environmental inputs. The implications of these results for vulnerability mechanisms involving stress reactivity on anxiety are discussed.
state anxiety, trait anxiety, genetics, twins, children
0091-0627
18-26
Lau, Jennifer Y.F.
2bd5bea3-6840-49ab-8734-1307da6d821b
Eley, Thalia C.
d9e3a546-3c35-4207-b074-2ced31f91f94
Stevenson, Jim
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Lau, Jennifer Y.F.
2bd5bea3-6840-49ab-8734-1307da6d821b
Eley, Thalia C.
d9e3a546-3c35-4207-b074-2ced31f91f94
Stevenson, Jim
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1

Lau, Jennifer Y.F., Eley, Thalia C. and Stevenson, Jim (2006) Examining the state-trait anxiety relationship: a behavioural genetic approach. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34 (1), 18-26. (doi:10.1007/s10802-005-9006-7).

Record type: Article

Abstract

State and trait anxiety define different aspects of anxiety, and may represent environmentally and genetically mediated components of this phenotype. Furthermore their relationship, where trait anxiety is expressed through levels of state anxiety under threatening circumstances, may represent a process of interplay between a genetic vulnerability factor and an environmental stressor. To test these hypotheses, we explored genetic and environmental influences on measures of state and trait anxiety in a sample of 1058 twins (521 males and 537 females) aged 8–16. The results were consistent with these hypotheses. State anxiety is largely influenced by environmental factors in males and females whereas trait anxiety shows moderate genetic effects and substantial non-shared environment effects. Their association was accounted for by non-shared environmental effects, with modest genetic and shared environmental inputs. The implications of these results for vulnerability mechanisms involving stress reactivity on anxiety are discussed.

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Published date: 2006
Keywords: state anxiety, trait anxiety, genetics, twins, children

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 40499
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/40499
ISSN: 0091-0627
PURE UUID: 40ac783a-386a-42b5-937d-e15b038f3deb

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Date deposited: 03 Jul 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:19

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Contributors

Author: Jennifer Y.F. Lau
Author: Thalia C. Eley
Author: Jim Stevenson

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