Genetic Similarity Shared by Best Friends Among Adolescents

Guang Guo

doi:10.1375/twin.9.1.113

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Two observations suggest a genetic similarity among close friends: (1) the observed similarity among friends in certain traits and behaviors; (2) the evidence that many of these traits and behaviors have a genetic component. This hypothesis is tested using monozygotic (MZ) twins, dizygotic (DZ) twins, full biological siblings, and their best friends from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Whether the resemblance between MZ twins' friends is larger than that between friends of DZ twins and full siblings is investigated with respect to 4 individual traits or behaviors: grade point average (GPA), AHPVT (the version Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test [PPVT] designed for Add Health), aggressive behavior, and depression. Our hypothesis is supported in analyses among same-sex friends (not among different-sex friends) for GPA, aggressive behavior, and AHPVT.

Crossref Citations

This article has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Guo, Guang Wilhelmsen, Kirk and Hamilton, Nathan 2007. Gene–lifecourse interaction for alcohol consumption in adolescence and young adulthood: Five monoamine genes. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Vol. 144B, Issue. 4, p. 417.

Mendle, Jane Turkheimer, Eric and Emery, Robert E. 2007. Detrimental psychological outcomes associated with early pubertal timing in adolescent girls. Developmental Review, Vol. 27, Issue. 2, p. 151.

RUSHTON, J. PHILIPPE 2008. Inclusive fitness in human relationships. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 96, Issue. 1, p. 8.

Kirillova, Galina P. Vanyukov, Michael M. Kirisci, Levent and Reynolds, Maureen 2008. Physical maturation, peer environment, and the ontogenesis of substance use disorders. Psychiatry Research, Vol. 158, Issue. 1, p. 43.

Hill, Jennifer Emery, Robert E. Harden, K. Paige Mendle, Jane and Turkheimer, Eric 2008. Alcohol Use in Adolescent Twins and Affiliation with Substance Using Peers. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Vol. 36, Issue. 1, p. 81.

Smith, Kirsten P. and Christakis, Nicholas A. 2008. Social Networks and Health. Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 34, Issue. 1, p. 405.

Adi‐Japha, Esther and Klein, Pnina S. 2009. Relations Between Parenting Quality and Cognitive Performance of Children Experiencing Varying Amounts of Childcare. Child Development, Vol. 80, Issue. 3, p. 893.

Guo, Guang Elder, Glen H. Cai, Tianji and Hamilton, Nathan 2009. Gene–environment interactions: Peers’ alcohol use moderates genetic contribution to adolescent drinking behavior. Social Science Research, Vol. 38, Issue. 1, p. 213.

Fowler, James H. Settle, Jaime E. and Christakis, Nicholas A. 2011. Correlated genotypes in friendship networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 108, Issue. 5, p. 1993.

Fu, Feng Tarnita, Corina E. Christakis, Nicholas A. Wang, Long Rand, David G. and Nowak, Martin A. 2012. Evolution of in-group favoritism. Scientific Reports, Vol. 2, Issue. 1,

Brendgen, Mara 2012. Genetics and Peer Relations: A Review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, Vol. 22, Issue. 3, p. 419.

Go, Myong-Hyun Tucker, Joan S. Green, Harold D. Pollard, Michael and Kennedy, David 2012. Social distance and homophily in adolescent smoking initiation. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 124, Issue. 3, p. 347.

Vanyukov, Michael M. Tarter, Ralph E. Kirillova, Galina P. Kirisci, Levent Reynolds, Maureen D. Kreek, Mary Jeanne Conway, Kevin P. Maher, Brion S. Iacono, William G. Bierut, Laura Neale, Michael C. Clark, Duncan B. and Ridenour, Ty A. 2012. Common liability to addiction and “gateway hypothesis”: Theoretical, empirical and evolutionary perspective. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 123, Issue. , p. S3.

Boardman, Jason D. Domingue, Benjamin W. and Fletcher, Jason M. 2012. How social and genetic factors predict friendship networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 109, Issue. 43, p. 17377.

Mendle, Jane and Ferrero, Joseph 2012. Detrimental psychological outcomes associated with pubertal timing in adolescent boys. Developmental Review, Vol. 32, Issue. 1, p. 49.

Harris, Kathleen Mullan Halpern, Carolyn Tucker Haberstick, Brett C. and Smolen, Andrew 2013. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) Sibling Pairs Data. Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol. 16, Issue. 1, p. 391.

Blum, Kenneth Femino, John Teitelbaum, Scott Giordano, John Oscar-Berman, Marlene and Gold, Mark 2013. Molecular Neurobiology of Addiction Recovery. p. 11.

Christakis, Nicholas A. and Fowler, James H. 2014. Friendship and natural selection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 111, Issue. supplement_3, p. 10796.

Barnes, J.C. Beaver, Kevin M. Young, Jacob T.N. and TenEyck, Michael 2014. A behavior genetic analysis of the tendency for youth to associate according to GPA. Social Networks, Vol. 38, Issue. , p. 41.

Kirillova, Galina Reynolds, Maureen Kirisci, Levent Mosovsky, Sherri Ridenour, Ty Tarter, Ralph and Vanyukov, Michael 2014. Familiality of addiction and its developmental mechanisms in girls. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 143, Issue. , p. 213.

Download full list

Article contents

Genetic Similarity Shared by Best Friends Among Adolescents

Abstract

Save article to Kindle

Save article to Dropbox

Save article to Google Drive

Reply to: Submit a response

Your details

You have entered the maximum number of contributors

Conflicting interests