Weak etiologic links between control and the externalizing behaviors delinquency and substance abuse in adolescence. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seglem, Karoline B.; Torgersen, Svenn; Ask, Helga; Waaktaar, Trine
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 75(2015)
• Page Start: 179
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Control -- Delinquency -- Substance abuse -- Externalizing -- Heritability -- Adolescence; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.11.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Highlights: The shared variance and etiology between personality and externalizing was modeled. Control, delinquency and substance abuse loaded on an externalizing factor. Control, a facet of impulsivity, shared little etiology with externalizing problems. The shared variance was largely driven by environmental factors. Abstract: Impulsive/disinhibitory personality traits have consistently been associated with externalizing symptomatology such as delinquency and substance use problems, often starting in adolescence. Yet the etiological nature of this co-occurrence is not well understood. Using a classic twin study design with self-report data from 717 male and female twin pairs, aged 15–18 years, a hierarchical psychometric model was examined. In this model the shared variance and etiological structure between control, delinquency and substance abuse symptoms, was modeled through a common externalizing factor. Model fitting indicated that the genetic and environmental influences differed in strength between male and female adolescents. The heritability of the externalizing factor was 45% in males and 10% in females, though neither was statistically different from zero. A statistically significant influence of shared environmental factors was seen for both sexes, 21% in males and 54% in females. In both sexes, the externalizing factor accounted for little variance in control, indicating a weak association and little shared etiology with externalizing liability. These results illuminate further that facets of impulsivity are differentially associated with vulnerability for externalizing symptomatology.