An examination of genetic and environmental factors related to negative personality traits, educational attainment, and economic success.

Abstract

Personality variables are associated with educational attainment and socioeconomic outcomes. In this study we incorporated a polygenic score derived from the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of educational attainment to date (Lee et al., 2018) into the Interactionist Model of R. D. Conger, Martin, and Masarik (2021) that describes the influence of socioeconomic factors on individual development. The inclusion of a polygenic score predictive of educational attainment (PS-Edu) into this model, and the use of the multigeneration, longitudinal Family Transitions Project (FTP) provide a unique opportunity to investigate genetic and environmental influences on the development of negative personality traits and educational and economic outcomes. The FTP is a three-generation sample. This study utilized data from the first generation (G1; mean age 40 at initiation of the FTP) and second generation (G2; assessed at mean ages 18 and 30). Participants are approximately 50% female, 99% of European ancestry, primarily from lower to middle class SES. PS-Edu was significantly correlated with educational attainment in both generations of the FTP, accounting for 4.1 to 6.7% of the variance. Findings confirm that PS-Edu is a complex genetic index that is correlated with all of the socioeconomic constructs in the model. Results suggest potential gene-environment correlation or common genetic influences underlie associations among parenting investments, negative personality traits, and educational attainment. Genetic variance captured by PS-Edu was mediated substantially through G1 parental investments. Although study limitations warrant cautious interpretation, we demonstrate the promise of including polygenic scores in developmental models to better understand genetic and environmental influences on human development.

Socioeconomic origin, future expectations, and educational achievement: A longitudinal three-generation study of the persistence of family advantage.

“…As previously discussed, findings from genetically informed research indicate that genetic transmission is most likely at issue as well (Caprara et al, 2009; Mosing et al, 2009; Schulman et al, 1993), although comparatively low heritability of optimism suggests that optimistic future expectations are sensitive to experiences and environmental influences across time (Carver et al, 2010). In many domains there is empirical evidence of gene-environment correlation, meaning that specific genotypes are unequally exposed to different environments (Gage et al, 2016; Kong et al, 2018; Scarr & McCartney, 1983; Stallings & Neppl, 2021). Our study does not allow us to gauge the relative, joint, or interactive influences of genetics and environments, but we recognize that inter- and intragenerational links involving future expectations found in this study likely resulted from the effects of genetics, historically changing environments, and the interplay between the two.…”

Special section on personality development: Testing environmental and genetic associations across generations.

“…Polygenic scores were available for 326 G1 fathers, 392 G1 mothers, 406 G2 targets, and 373 G2 siblings. Additional details regarding the genotyping, quality controls, and polygenic scores are presented in the two articles which employ genetic data; Donnellan et al (2021) and Stallings and Neppl (2021).…”

“…This article extends our understanding of the development of conscientiousness in the young adult G2 participants by adding genetic data, in the form of polygenic index scores, to the phenotypic model presented in the first empirical article by Conger and colleagues. The final empirical article by Stallings and Neppl (2021) continues the exploration of contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the development of negative personality traits and their association with educational attainment in young adulthood.…”

Growth and Yield Responses of Zea mays to Different Granule Biofertilizer Applications

“…This shows that even though the corn has been separated from the husk, it still has a high weight compared to other cultivar in terms of differences produced by the genetics of the cultivar. Genetic factors will play a good role if environmental factors are in optimum condition or if environmental factors are in optimal condition, plant growth and yield will be largely determined by genetic factors [32]. The results of the analysis of the average weight of 100 grains and the average tip filling showed no significant interaction in the treatment of bacterial colony density and maize cultivar.…”