Life Situation and Coping Ability: A Follow-Up of a Longitudinal Swedish Twin Study from Adolescence to Mid-Life.

N

8

Adjustment (to Environment); Adolescents; Adults; Classroom Environment; Coping; Family Characteristics; Family Environment; Family Relationship; Foreign Countries; Health; Heredity; Longitudinal Studies; Nature Nurture Controversy; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Sex Differences; Student Adjustment; Twins

This longitudinal study investigated hereditary and environmental influences on life situation, self-reported health, and coping ability at mid-life in relation to background factors collected during adolescence. A nationally representative Swedish sample comprised of monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins; a control group of singletons was assessed when subjects were 16 years of age and again when they were in their mid-30s. A questionnaire addressing civil status, children, housing, education, occupation, economic situation, frequency of family contacts, family environment, and coping ability was completed by 319 twins and 322 singletons. Results showed sex differences, similar to findings during adolescent evaluation. Males reported higher occupational status and less frequent parental contact than females. DZ male twin adults had the most positive economic situation; MZ female twin adults reported the least positive. MZ male and DZ same-sex male twin adults had higher coping ability scores than other subjects. Teacher ratings of school adjustment during adolescence were positively related to coping ability at mid-life, with a stronger relationship for males than females. MZ twin adults showed a higher within pair concordance for coping ability than did DZ twin adults, suggesting hereditary influence on coping ability. MZ twins perceived their school environment during adolescence more similarly within pairs than did DZ twin pairs. MZ male twins perceived their family environment during adolescence more similarly within pairs than did DZ same-sex male twins. However, female MZ twins perceived their family environment during adolescence less similarly within pairs compared to DZ same-sex female twins. (KDFB)

1997

ED401023