The Influence of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Anxiety among Chinese Adolescents: A Twin Study

Abstract

This study explored the influence of genetic and environmental factors on adolescent anxiety. Ninety-eight monozygotic and dizygotic twins from Chongqing, China (aged 15–18 years) were assessed for anxiety with the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were applied to assess environmental factors. Venous blood was drawn from the twins for zygosity determination. Structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate the effects of additive genetic factors (A), common environmental factors (C), and individual-specific environmental factors (E) on adolescent anxiety. The estimates of A and E on adolescent anxiety were 0.34 (95% CI = 0.12–0.53) and 0.66 (95% CI:0.47–0.89), respectively. The environment played an important role in adolescent anxiety. Adolescent anxiety was significantly positively correlated with peer relations (r = 0.606, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with prosocial behavior (r = 0.207, p < 0. 05). No sex differences were observed. Adolescent anxiety was influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The individual-specific environmental factors played an important role. Consideration of these variables will facilitate the targeted and individualized implementation of specific interventions for adolescent anxiety.

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• genetic
• environmental
• adolescent
• twins

Acknowledgments

We thank the twins and their families for participating in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the following organizations and projects: Intelligent Medicine Research Project of Chongqing Medical University (ZHYX202218); Chongqing Social Science Planning Social Organization Project (2022sz11); Senior Medical Talents Program of Chongqing for Yong and Middle-aged; Program for Youth Innovation in Future Medicine, Chongqing Medical University (w0107); Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing (CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0121); Scientific Research Program, Chongqing Medical University of Nursing (20230302).

Notes on contributors

Fangyi Wang

Fangyi Wang is a graduate student in the Department of Nursing at Chongqing Medical University. Her research interest is in adolescent mental health.

Xingshun Ma

Xingshun Ma is a neurologist at Yulin First Hospital. He specializes in clinical diagnosis and treatment of interventional diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular disease, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression, epilepsy, vertigo, and neurocritical diseases.

Liansheng Zhao

Liansheng Zhao is a researcher at the Psychiatry Research Laboratory of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. His research interest is in psychiatry.

Tao Li

Tao Li is a professor at Zhejiang University School of Medicine and West China Hospital of Sichuan University. He is dedicated to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of common psychiatric and psychological disorders and the study of their etiology. He has served as an associate editor of Neuroscience Bulletin and as an editorial board member of Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry, and the International Advisory Committee.

Yixiao Fu

Yixiao Fu is a professor of psychiatry at Chongqing Medical University. Her research interest includes child and adolescent psychological problems, perimenopausal female psychiatric disorders, and sleep disorders.

Wenfen Zhu

Wenfen Zhu is an associate professor at the School of Nursing, Chongqing Medical University. Her research interest is in adolescent mental health.