Subjective well-being: genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change
Abstract
Background. Previous cross-sectional studies have found substantial genetic influences on individual variation in subjective well-being (SWB), and evidence for sex-specific genetic effects has been reported. However, the genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in SWB over time are largely unexplored. Method. Questionnaire data on SWB from a population-based sample of Norwegian twins born 1967 to 1979, initially surveyed in 1992 (T 1 ) and re-surveyed in 1998 (T 2 ), were analysed using structural equation modelling to explore the relative effects of genetic and environmental influences on phenotypic stability and change. Results. The phenotypic cross-time correlations for SWB were 0·51 and 0·49 for males and females respectively. The best-fitting longitudinal model specified only additive genetic and individual environmental effects with qualitative and quantitative sex-specific genetic influences. For both males and females, the additive genetic factors influencing SWB were largely stable, although some time-specific genetic contributions were indicated. Cross-time correlations for genetic effects were 0·85 and 0·78 for males and females respectively. The individual environmental influences were primarily time-specific. Additive genetic effects explained approximately 80% of the phenotypic cross-time correlation. For females, the magnitude of the additive genetic effects decreased significantly from T 1 to T 2 , whereas for males, the estimates generally remained unchanged. Conclusions. For both males and females, long-term stability of SWB was mainly attributable to stable additive genetic factors, whereas susceptibility to change was mostly related to individual environmental factors. However, both stable environmental contributions and emerging genetic influences were indicated.
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Subjective well-being tends to be relatively stable over time.
“In fact, subjective well-being tends to be relatively stable over time (Diener and Lucas, 1999; Lyubomirsky et al., 2005; Nes et al., 2006).”
From The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a meta-analysis (2014) · cites this paper as Nes et al., 2006
Two cohorts, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel and the Netherlands Twin Register, reported significant sex-differences in heritability in some of their studies.
“Two cohorts (the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel and the Netherlands Twin Register), reported significant sex-differences in heritability in some of their studies (Bartels et al. 2010, 2013; Nes et al. 2006, 2008; Røysamb et al. 2003).”
From Genetics of Wellbeing and Its Components Satisfaction with Life, Happiness, and Quality of Life: A Review and Meta-analysis of Heritability Studies (2015) · cites this paper as Nes et al. 2006
The Netherlands Twin Register consistently reports higher heritability estimates for females versus males, which is also observed in most NIPHTP studies except for specific estimates in Nes et al. (2006) and Nes et al. (2008).
“The NTR consistently report higher estimates for females versus males, which is also observed in most of the NIPHTP studies, except for the heritability estimates at time2 in Nes et al. (2006) and the estimates in Nes et al. (2008).”
From Genetics of Wellbeing and Its Components Satisfaction with Life, Happiness, and Quality of Life: A Review and Meta-analysis of Heritability Studies (2015) · cites this paper as Nes et al. 2006
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The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a meta-analysis
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“In fact, subjective well-being tends to be relatively stable over time (Diener and Lucas, 1999; Lyubomirsky et al., 2005; Nes et al., 2006).”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- NES, R. B., Røysamb, E., TAMBS, K., HARRIS, J. R., & REICHBORN-KJENNERUD, T.
- Affiliations
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO)
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2006-03-30
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1033-1042
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2055176884
- Cited by
- 214
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 9.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- subjective well-being, genetic factors, environmental influences, sex differences, additive genetic effects, longitudinal twin study, life satisfaction
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Health, Environment, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Models, Psychological, Norway, Phenotype, Surveys and Questionnaires, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic
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