Genetic and environmental influences on residential location in the US

Glen E Duncan; Elizabeth J Dansie; Eric Strachan; Melissa Munsell; Ruizhu Huang; Anne Vernez Moudon; Jack Goldberg; Dedra Buchwald

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.02.003

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Genetic and environmental influences on residential location in the US

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Genetic and environmental influences on residential location in the US

Glen E Duncan, Elizabeth J Dansie, Eric Strachan, Melissa Munsell, Ruizhu Huang, Anne Vernez Moudon, Jack Goldberg and Dedra Buchwald

Health & place, Vol.18(3), pp.515-519

05/2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.02.003

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103270

PMCID: PMC3319489

PMID: 22377617

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Abstract

Environment

Genetics

Walkability

Twins

Neighborhood

We used a classical twin design and measures of neighborhood walkability and social deprivation, using each twin's street address, to examine genetic and environmental influences on the residential location of 1389 same-sex pairs from a US community-based twin registry. Within-pair correlations and structural equation models estimated these influences on walkability among younger (ages 18–24.9) and older (ages 25+) twins. Adjusting for social deprivation, walkability of residential location was primarily influenced by common environment with lesser contributions of unique environment and genetic factors among younger twins, while unique environment most strongly influenced walkability, with small genetic and common environment effects, among older twins. Thus, minimal variance in walkability was explained by shared genetic effects in younger and older twins, and confirms the importance of environmental factors in walkability of residential locations. ► Genetic and environmental influences on residential walkability of twins were examined. ► In twins 18–24.9 years, residential walkability was influenced by common environment factors. ► In twins 25+ years, residential walkability was influenced by unique environment factors. ► There was a small genetic effect on residential walkability in both age groups. ► These findings confirm the importance of environmental factors in residential walkability.

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Title: Genetic and environmental influences on residential location in the US
Creators: Glen E Duncan - Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Elizabeth J Dansie - Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Twin Registry, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Eric Strachan - Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Melissa Munsell - Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Ruizhu Huang - Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Anne Vernez Moudon - Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Jack Goldberg - Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Dedra Buchwald - Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Twin Registry, Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98195–3410, USA
Publication Details: Health & place, Vol.18(3), pp.515-519
Academic Unit: Community Health; Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Department of
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Identifiers: 99900546667001842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article