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Cited by 223Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentCognitive Abilities and Testing

Heritability of attention problems in children: longitudinal results from a study of twins, age 3 to 12

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Rietveld, M.J.H., Hudziak, J.J., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M., Boomsma, D.I.·2004·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
DOI 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00247.x
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Abstract

Background: Twin studies of childhood behavior problems support the conclusion that individual differences in impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention are largely due to genetic influences. Non‐genetic variation is due to environmental influences that are unique to the individual, and possibly to rater contrast effects. In the present longitudinal twin study, we report on the size of genetic and environmental effects on individual differences in attention problems at ages 3, 7, 10 and 12 years. Methods: Mothers were asked to complete the CBCL for their twin offspring when the children were 3 ( n = 11,938), 7 ( n = 10,657), 10 ( n = 6,192), and 12 years old ( n = 3,124). We focus on the Overactivity (OA) scale in the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/2–3), and on the Attention Problem (AP) scale of the CBCL/4–18. The data were analyzed using longitudinal structural equation modeling. Results: Broad heritability of OA and AP is estimated at nearly 75%, at each age. A contrast effect was observed at age 3 only. The results revealed less stability of OA at age 3 to AP at age 7 ( r = .40), compared to the stability from AP at age 7 and beyond ( r = .70). Genetic effects explained between 76% and 92% of the covariance between OA and AP. Conclusions: OA and AP are highly heritable at all ages in both genders. The same set of genes appears to be expressed in boys and girls. The size of genetic and environmental contributions remains the same across the ages studied. Stability in OA and AP is accounted for by genetic influences. Children who do not display OA or AP at a given age are unlikely to develop these problems at a subsequent age.

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Authors
Rietveld, M. J. H., Hudziak, J. J., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, C. E. M., & Boomsma, D. I.
Affiliations
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Vermont (US)
Corresponding author
Rietveld, M.J.H.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-02-24
Volume
45
Issue
3
Pages
577-588
ISSN
  • 0021-9630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7610
DOI
10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00247.x
OpenAlex
W2116610405
Cited by
223
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
FWCI
11.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH052813, MH-52813)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords
heritability, attention deficits, overactivity, hyperactivity, impulsivity, genetic factors, environmental influences, twin studies, longitudinal stability, Child Behavior Checklist, child behavior problems, sex differences
MeSH terms
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child, Preschool, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Phenotype, Surveys and Questionnaires, Twins, Genetic Predisposition to Disease

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